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For disclosure, I have been in support of Alberta/Western Canada separation since the 80s. I even bought the T-shirt "Republic of Western Canada" back in the day... So the concept of Western alienation and independence is not new to me.
“To what extent would you support or oppose the province of Alberta becoming a country independent of Canada?” 47% were in favour compared to 48% opposed, with those in support higher than in many previous polls. Second, while 62% of Canadians nationally are opposed to Alberta separating compared to 26% in favour, 55% said they “understand why Alberta might want to become an independent country” compared to 37% who said they didn’t understand. The survey of 1,537 Canadian adults taken from May 16-18 found more people in every province, among both men and women and in every age group, saying they understood why Alberta might want to become an independent country, than those who said they didn’t understand.
Even the Toronto media is starting to notice that we mean it. This is unlike Quebec, which has never meant it; Quebec independence was always an empty threat because without the Equalization Payments, Quebec could not pay for its social programs - let alone build replacements for the federal government functions.
We (Alberta) feel like Hank Rearden. We pay all the bills, yet at every corner we're mocked, denigrated and ignored.
Discussion (28)
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Do it!
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Alberta can separate if it wants to, but that doesn't mean we want them added to the US.
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Join us. We have brisket. And better beer (ducks).
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Or just remain independent. That would be fine, too. We're pretty relaxed about that prospect down here really.
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Like most Americans of my acquaintance, I'm largely ignorant of what goes on in Canada. As a young, dirt-poor Southerner I never imagined visiting the place, but while in high school I did see an aerial photograph that showed a clear-cut area of a dense forest. On the Northern side, one was in Canada. On the Southern side, the U. S. Even back then I thought it was pretty cool that two nations trusted each other enough to leave vast sections of the border unguarded. I hope that's still true.
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