Critics questioning why Smith is leaving the door open to Alberta separation

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith speaks in Edmonton on Tuesday April 29, 2025. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson) (JASON FRANSON/THE CANADIAN PRESS)

As Alberta’s UCP government pushes back against claims separatists are in its ranks, many are wondering why Premier Danielle Smith and the province aren’t taking a harder, direct stance against leaving confederation.

New Calgary Confederation MP Corey Hogan says he’d like to see more leadership on the file.

• Sign up for breaking news alerts from CTV News, right at your fingertips
• The information you need to know, sent directly to you: Download the CTV News App

“We need people from across the political spectrum — if they love this country — to stand up and knock down some of the arguments that are out there,” Hogan said.

“The thing about (Premier Danielle Smith) is that she’s always open to other people’s points of view, for good or for ill. She has no ability to shut the door on things — in my experience — which is a very nice thing in many situations but could be very dangerous in a moment like this.”

Smith’s government introduced a bill that would sharply lower the bar for citizens seeking to trigger province-wide referendums.

She has faced criticism from political watchers, opponents and many Albertans alike.

Hogan says he’s worried her messaging is leading some to believe separating would be “a lot easier and a lot quicker” than it actually would be.

He’d like to see Smith’s party step up and squash rumours so separatists realize just what they’re asking for.

“One myth I hear all of the time is this notion that if Alberta were to separate, then because it’s a landlocked country, Canada would be obligated under international law to build a pipeline to the coast,” he told CTV News.

“This is Facebook thinking, that whole ‘one neat trick to get rid of all of your belly fat’ thinking.

“It’s not real and not rooted in anything, but it (shows) lies propagate faster and further than the truth.”

For her part, Smith has stated that she does not support Alberta separating from Canada.

She says she “supports a strong Alberta within a united Canada.”

There are some UCP MLAs who are so far unwilling to say if they support staying in Canada or separating

One Calgary economist says he’s frankly sick of the “stupid” conversation.

“You find me a mainstream economist who says this is a good idea, and I will show you an unemployed economist,” Moshe Lander said.

“It really should be a non-starter, and that non-starter really should come out of the premier’s office, where she says, ‘I have a degree in economics, and I’m telling you that this is a bad idea.’”

Economic notes

Economically speaking, Lander calls the entire proposition “ridiculous.”

He has seen firsthand the lingering impact of Quebec’s separation aspirations and says the investment aspect alone is reason enough to balk.

“Beyond just trying to figure out how to divorce from Canada, you would have a plunge in business confidence,” Lander said.

Which could be detrimental to Alberta’s largest industry — an industry many separatists believe allows the province to have this conversation to begin with.

“Where are you going to build the pipelines other than to Montana?” Lander asked.

“Because I have to assume that if Canada doesn’t like the idea of pipelines now, they’re certainly not going to like it when Alberta goes its own way,” he continued.

“And then you imagine that Canada would then be able to put tariffs on energy, which means that the net back to Alberta producers would be even less than what it is now. So, if they feel that they’re currently selling their crude at a discount, they would be selling it at an even steeper discount (after separating), which would compromise their revenues.”

Lander believes the Smith government has an obligation to explain to separatists — many of them conservative-minded — what the proposition would really entail.

“You were elected to lead. And if you can’t get Ottawa to hear what you’re leading with, then try a different leader or try a different sales pitch. But you don’t go to the people and say, “Maybe we should just quit.’”