Premier Danielle Smith on Thursday acknowledged the growing desire among Albertans to break from Ottawa — “I’ve seen such a high level of separatist sentiment,” she said.The premier, speaking at a press conference alongside federal Transport Minister Chrystia Freeland and Calgary Mayor Jyoti Gondek at a groundbreaking ceremony for the city’s new LRT Green Line, said Albertans were voicing growing frustration and deep dissatisfaction with the federal government.Smith has issued a list of nine demands to Ottawa over what she has described as “bad policies,” namely those related to the federal climate initiatives that impede the construction of new pipelines and ban oil tankers off the West Coast.Commenting on this week’s byelection in Olds-Didsbury-Three Hills, where Republican Party of Alberta leader Cam Davies garnered 18% of the vote, she said “separatist sentiment” has gained ground in Alberta like never before..WATCH: Danielle Smith on Alberta Independence.Smith, who has repeatedly said Albertans deserve to have their voice heard and could hold an independence referendum in 2026 if a petition gets enough signatures, said the ball is in Prime Minister Mark Carney’s court.“This is really in Ottawa’s hands,” she said, citing an instance from the ’80s when the federal government faced rising western alienation and demands for Western independence.Many Albertans saw the National Energy Program as federal overreach that drained wealth from the West and undermined provincial rights. Then-prime minister Brian Mulroney dismantled the program after taking office in 1984.In 1985, he signed the Western Accord with Alberta, Saskatchewan, and BC, ending federal price controls and subsidies, and restoring provincial control over oil and gas. Though never repealed outright, the NEP was effectively scrapped — seen as a political and economic reset to ease regional tensions and restore federal trust.“After Brian Mulroney got rid of the National Energy Program, the sentiment evaporated,” said Smith..WATCH: Alberta independence group unveils its referendum question.She said while a significant number voted for the independence party, the fact that the UCP won the riding indicates the public wants to see cooperation with Ottawa.“If Ottawa wants to work with me to cause that (independence) sentiment to subside, then we need to materially address the nine bad laws that have created that negative investment climate,” she said.“If they make the changes that we’re requesting, then I suspect they can take the air out of that movement.”.WATCH: Smith calls for Alberta firearms licence exclusive of federal government .Freeland also acknowledged the issue. She indicated Ottawa plans to work with Smith, and will speed up approval for infrastructure projects — what she described as a “turning point” for Canada.“I think we are on a really good path recognizing we need to be united,” said Freeland.“We need to find ways to build Canada.“With that approach of positive intent — a shared recognition of the challenges Canada is facing, Alberta is facing — I really think that we are at the beginning of a new chapter where we’re going to get a lot more done a lot faster.”
