Nathan Anderson is a former journalist and fourth generation cattle rancher from Carbon, Alberta Is Alberta truly strong and free? That’s a loaded question these days. It has been nearly month since the 2025 federal election, and I think it's safe to say Alberta continues to experience a fierce wave of political rage.Talk of independence is at a fever pitch, surpassing what was experienced in the 1980s or the 2000s. The tut-tut condescension of Eastern media, and the finger-wagging of federalist lap dogs like failed premier Jason Kenney, are doing nothing to quell the sentiment. These voices don’t even register in our communities anymore.With that in mind, I have some thoughts to share (with love) for those who, like me, seek independence for Alberta. You won’t like all of them.Note, if you are a federalist or even a soft sovereigntist, this column is not for you. Not yet, anyway..This is for those of us who recognize that despite decades of empty political promises, Albertans are in a worse place now than we were 40 years ago. GDP per capita is falling, public and private debt is rising, and Alberta is quickly becoming a place where success is dependent on whom you know, not what you know.The sneering political class has referred to us as the rural poor, but the fact is Albertans from every region now face the sad realities of Canada’s failed economic decline-by-design policies.For folks like us, independence isn’t just a cause-du-jour, it is a pressing necessity to protect our families, in hopes that our children may one day have the opportunity to reach their full potential..In the past, our movement experienced similar periods of heated enthusiasm. Ultimately, each of these periods ended in silence and frustration. Sustained momentum has been elusive. Why? Two reasons come to mind.First, entrenched interests have been successful in maintaining the status quo through a ceaseless campaign of rewarding loyalist soldiers, and banishing from public life those who dare to question their narrative.This campaign works in two ways. First, it encourages those who comply to feel morally superior. Secondly, it seeks to deny hope to those who share our dream of freedom.If all this sounds familiar, it should. These were the same tactics embraced by the Kenney government during the pandemic. These tactics worked exceedingly well… until they didn’t..I think we should expect a similar campaign now. It is a time-tested strategy repeatedly deployed by those seeking to maintain power. Recognizing these tactics, and helping our fellow citizens see them as well, is half the battle.The second reason independence movements tend to stall is that active participants grow frustrated with a perceived lack of progress. Sometimes they turn on each other, and sometimes they turn on fellow Albertans who are currently outside the movement.We have seen some of this already, with various camps sniping at each other on social media. Folks, this is a natural part of the democratic process and it is to be expected. It is not something that should cause us to lose heart.Nobody has a monopoly on how the dream of a free Alberta should be realized — no single party, no single leader and no single organizer. Our dream will only be realized if everybody gets a voice..This is not a finger-wagging column to encourage partisan-style unity among all Albertans who want independence. In fact, such tight-fisted control has proven more harmful to conservative movements than free-spirited debate.If you think (as I do) that the current Alberta government is paying lip service to our movement without meaningful action — by all means, feel free to take them to the woodshed.Rather, my lone piece of advice to Albertans seeking independence is to refrain from venting your frustration on folks outside the movement. It just makes us look weak and thin-skinned.Instead, try respectfully asking them questions:“Why, after 40 years of this debate, do you think Alberta continues to fall further behind?”“If Canada works, why do the same provinces always receive funding and Alberta always pays?”“What is Alberta actually doing differently this time to be taken seriously?” Ultimately, not all of our fellow citizens are ready to shake off their partisan slumber and give independence an honest look. That’s okay. You can have faith that ultimately this movement will succeed..Here is what gives me hope. Have you ever, in your own personal life, experienced an honest-to-God epiphany? Such moments of clarity are rare, but life altering. Once you see the truth, as harsh and uncomfortable as it may be, that vision sticks with you.For those of us within the movement, that epiphany typically involves betrayal. Time and time again, we have watched those we elect to bring about change invariably become fierce defenders of the status quo.They get richer. We get poorer. Then they vilify us for asking why.However, over time, more and more people are coming to this same conclusion. The independence movement of the 2000s was larger than the 1980s. Today’s movement is stronger still.Here’s my hot take: Alberta will be free. You can book it. But it will only happen when a critical mass is freed from its partisan blinders long enough to notice the wool being pulled over its eyes.Our job isn’t to argue with them. Our job is to help them see.For us to succeed, 'Fortis et Liber' can’t be a political slogan, or a motto left over from a dead language. It has to be a dream of who we once were and who we can be again.Sermon over.Nathan Anderson is a former journalist and fourth generation cattle rancher from Carbon, Alberta.
