Could Alberta secede from Canada? The Prime Minister announced a referendum

The conflict with the federal government is intensifying in the oil-rich Canadian province of Alberta. The provincial premier, Daniel Smith, said that a referendum on the independence of the region is likely to be held in 2025. This was reported by The Economic Times.

According to Daniel Smith, if the required number of signatures on this issue are collected, the issue of independence will be put to a national vote. However, Smith emphasized that he personally does not support secession. According to him, the main purpose of this initiative is to increase political pressure on Ottawa.

It should be noted that the province of Alberta regularly argues with the federal government over energy policy. While the leaders of the region are in favor of expanding oil production, the Canadian federal government is in favor of protecting the environment and developing "green energy". This conflict has been going on for years and has become even more acute in recent times.

Local politicians believe that Alberta's economic interests are not being adequately taken into account by the federal government, and that the province is not making full use of its rich natural resources. This, in turn, is creating a sense of dissatisfaction with the federal government among the province's residents.

In addition, statements by former US President Donald Trump regarding Canada in recent years have further complicated the situation. Trump has repeatedly stressed the need for Canada to join the United States and even said that he would like to see the country as the 51st state of the United States. According to Trump, if Canada were to unite with the United States, both sides could benefit economically.

Trump's words have fueled separatism in Alberta and are being viewed as an external influence on the local political situation. However, analysts believe that Alberta is unlikely to actually secede. Especially since, according to polls conducted among the population, only about 30 percent of the population supports the idea of ​​independence.

At the same time, the situation in Alberta is also of interest in other regions of Canada, including Quebec, which has traditionally been the center of separatism. Recently, Quebec leaders have begun to show interest in Alberta's oil exploration projects.

What is clear so far is that if Alberta takes concrete steps to hold an independence referendum, it will be a serious political event in Canadian history. Analysts say that even if Alberta does not become independent, this process could increase pressure on the federal government and radically change economic and political relations within the country.

It is difficult to make a clear conclusion about how the situation will develop in the near future and how strong the independence movement in Alberta will be. However, it is clear that this statement by the head of the province can cause significant changes in the political landscape of Canada. Read 'Zamin' on Telegram!