At what point does Alberta separatism become a threat to national sovereignty?
Albertans driven by economic grievances plan a 2026 referendum, with foreign interest raising security concerns over Canadian sovereignty, CSIS warns.
- In 2026, Alberta will hold a referendum after the UCP government approved a citizen-initiative petition requiring 177,732 signatures by May 2.
- Albertans' economic grievances stem from perceived mismanagement and federal unresponsiveness, with polls showing three of 10 would answer yes and half of those as leverage-seeking voters.
- Long lineups at Jan. 26 signing events show strong mobilisation, while Alberta separatist organizers report U.S. contacts with State Department officials and Trump-linked figures, plus encouragement from U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.
- Questions persist about whether a referendum held while President Donald Trump is in power can be free from manipulation, with CSIS warning Parliament that outside forces could exploit divides.
- Analysts note historical lessons from former Yugoslavia for federations as Canada examines non-conventional defence measures, including a civilian defence force and total national defence, alongside increased defence spending.
11 Articles
11 Articles
Canada should be wary of embracing ‘total national defence’ to ward off an American invasion
As the Donald Trump administration in the United States continues to threaten Canadian sovereignty — including a recent suggestion that Alberta could secede from Canada and join the U.S. — Canadians, like many others in the world, finds themselves in a period of extreme uncertainty. Trump’s continued violations of the rules-based international order means Canada can no longer rely on its partners to the same extent as it has in the past. The wor…
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 50% of the sources lean Right
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium









