In a recent news conference, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith made it clear that her primary focus will be on addressing what she perceives as the damage inflicted upon Alberta by the federal government in Ottawa over the past decade. This statement comes at a time when discussions surrounding the possibility of Alberta separating from Canada are gaining traction among the public.

During the conference held on Tuesday, Smith reiterated her commitment to holding a referendum on provincial separation in 2026, contingent upon Albertans gathering the necessary signatures to initiate a petition. While she emphasized that she does not wish to presume that a referendum would occur, she assured that should the citizens of Alberta express their desire for one, she would honor the democratic process involved.

Despite the rising discussions of separation, Smith clarified her personal stance, stating, "I do not support Alberta separating from Canada. I personally still have hope that there is a path forward for a strong and sovereign Alberta within a united Canada. So I am going to do everything within my power to negotiate a fair deal for Alberta with the new Prime Minister." This statement reflects her underlying belief in the potential for cooperation between Alberta and the federal government, which she hopes to navigate with Prime Minister Mark Carney.

When asked about the feasibility of separation, Smith remained optimistic as she plans to enter negotiations with Prime Minister Carney without presuming they will fail. Nevertheless, she underscored that the wishes of the people of Alberta must be respected, expressing the importance of allowing open and honest discussions regarding the province's future. She warned that in the coming months, there may be individuals seeking to instigate fear and division among Albertans, stating, "Those who would like to see Alberta divided." Smith emphasized that the decision around separation should be left to the citizens of Alberta.

In a noteworthy development, just a day after Carney led the Liberal Party to victory in the recent federal election, the Alberta government introduced legislation aimed at lowering the threshold required to trigger a provincial referendum. If passed, the new bill would reduce the necessary signatures needed from 20 percent of total registered voters to 10 percent of eligible voters from the last general election. Additionally, the timeframe for collecting these signatures would be extended from 90 days to 120 days, allowing citizens more time to mobilize support for a potentially game-changing referendum.

"All I've said is that I will honor the process," Smith reiterated during the news conference, adding that there has been a long-standing frustration in Alberta towards Ottawa, which has intensified in recent years.

Smith acknowledged that there has always been some level of support for the idea of separation within Alberta, and she believes that individuals should not be "demonized" for holding such opinions. "It's always ebbed and flowed, but that has always been in the background of Alberta electoral politics, and it just happened to have flared up right now. Citizens have a right to express their opinion on things that they're concerned about, and I think it's my job to ensure that debate is respectful," she stated.

In her address, Smith also answered questions following a live broadcast where she discussed various issues, including perceived economic incursions from the federal Liberal government and her plans to establish a sovereignty panel. This initiative will focus on exploring long-term options for economic and constitutional protections from Ottawa.

The newly proposed panel, named the Alberta Next panel, will conduct town halls to engage with citizens and gather their insights on Alberta's future. After the discussions, Smith indicated that there will be an opportunity for Albertans to vote on the most popular proposals that emerge from these panels next year.

Furthermore, Smith outlined a renewed set of demands that her government believes Ottawa must meet to restore the often strained relationship between Alberta and the federal government. In defending the introduction of legislation aimed at lowering the signature threshold for citizen-led referendum questions, she stated, "If we genuinely want citizens to be able to identify issues they care about, to be able to put forward to the people, you need to have a reasonable signature threshold." This reflects her commitment to empowering Albertans in the democratic process.