LIVE|‘Want to be free' Alberta’s Premier Stokes Fire with Referendum Plan! Separatist Storm Brewing?

#live #worldnews #canada
LIVE|‘Want to be free' Alberta’s Premier Stokes Fire with Referendum Plan! Separatist Storm Brewing?
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith has proposed a 2026 referendum to vote on measures to protect the province’s economy from federal policies, following the formation of an “Alberta Next” panel she will chair to brainstorm solutions. While explicitly rejecting separation from Canada as a government-led referendum question, Smith noted that a citizen-driven separation question could appear if enough signatures are gathered, facilitated by a proposed bill. She criticized the federal Liberal government for stifling Alberta’s resource-based economy and issued demands, including equalized transfers, export corridors, and the repeal of environmental regulations. Critics, including the Alberta NDP and academics, accuse Smith of fueling separatist sentiments and risking economic instability, while some UCP members and separatist groups see the move as either insufficient or a democratic opportunity, amid rising frustrations following the Liberals’ recent federal election win.
#live #worldnews #canada #canadanews #canadapm