The United Conservative Party is boasting about its fundraising and its leader is striking positive notes about the future of Alberta as this fall’s pending referendum continues to generate debate. Danielle Smith spoke to a sold-out, $525-a-plate dinner in Calgary Friday night, where she reiterated her belief in Alberta remaining part of Canada. “I’ve always been clear that I believe in a strong and sovereign Alberta within a United Canada. That is the position of our party, our caucus and our government. However when it comes to the question of Alberta’s future within Canada, I’ve encountered four different perspectives over the last number of weeks,” Smith said. “First of course are those asking, ‘why are we having a vote on Alberta separation at all?’” she added. “And the answer to that is simple: we believe that when an issue is important to Albertans, they should have a way of putting those ideas forward.” Smith went on to say that kicking the can down the road by delaying a referendum would muzzle debate. She reiterated that she will personally vote to remain in Canada. The annual UCP leader’s dinner was held at the BMO Centre, with Smith speaking on a central stage. Two thousand people were in attendance and the party says more than $1 million was raised. The party says it out-fundraised the opposition NDP by a two-to-one margin in the first quarter of 2026. Smith urged Albertans who are leaning towards separation or are frustrated with Ottawa to consider recent gains she says Alberta has made. “Together we did such a great job advancing Alberta’s position on energy that the federal Liberals finally adopted most of our positions on energy and resource development, truly,” she said. Earlier Friday, Smith said she’s hopeful a pipeline project can help quiet some of the dissenting voices of separation. The countdown is on for the Alberta government to submit its proposed pipeline project to the West Coast to the federal government’s Major Projects Office.
