Fringe to Mainstream: The Movement to Split Alberta From Canada Gets Its Moment

In October, residents of Alberta will face a significant choice: whether to remain a part of Canada or to hold a referendum to leave. This decision could either resolve ongoing tensions or exacerbate the divide.

A table set up to gather signatures for a separation petition appeared in Calgary, Alberta, showing the growing interest in this movement. Credit…

Steven Lovelace, a resident of Slave Lake, Alberta, is uncertain about the province’s path to independence. As a self-proclaimed patriot, he holds concerns about Alberta’s landlocked status if it were to secede. Despite these worries, he supports holding a vote on the matter.

“I love Canada, that’s the hard part,” Lovelace mentioned during an interview in Slave Lake. The town, with a population of 7,300, is economically supported by oil, gas, and forestry industries. Lovelace, a 31-year-old tradesman working in a pulp mill, nonetheless signed a petition calling for a vote on the separation issue.

The momentum for a referendum has been growing after months of heightened political activities, including interactions between separatists and leaders in the Trump administration. It is becoming increasingly probable that Lovelace will witness the referendum take place on October 19.

“I don’t go day to day talking about separation,” he noted. “But I want to scare Ottawa,” referring to Canada’s capital and the seat of the federal government.

Alberta’s situation as a province rich in oil makes it comparable to “Texas of Canada.” The upcoming referendum will directly ask the citizens if they wish to remain in Canada or opt for a binding vote to secede.

Image of Steven Lovelace, center, watching the men’s Olympic hockey finals between Canada and the United States, in Slave Lake.