Westerners saw it coming but Canada was shocked when support for provincial independence exploded, after Eastern Canada chose to reward the Liberals with a larger government in the general election.At first, federalists dismissed the provincial sovereignty movement as a fringe minority of loud cranks. They were confident it was little more than a collection of vocal malcontents on social media and there was little of substance to the movement.When a poll from Angus Reid indicated support for independence in Alberta had swollen to 37%, federalists woke up and turned up the vitriol. They realized the movement was real and decided to fight it through insulting independence supporters and telling them they had no right to leave. Airtime was given to curated indigenous chiefs who falsely claimed an independence referendum would violate treaty rights, while washed up musicians such as Jann Arden released video tirades calling Albertans everything from hillbillies to pricks..Smugly, the Canadian establishment types leaned back and maintained confidence they had slapped down those uppity Westerners and that the movement would surely fizzle out in short order.Meanwhile, groups were organizing throughout Alberta and holding rallies for independence. The halls were packed, and the databases were filled with the names of people ready to sign a petition to invoke a referendum on Albertan independence.With the election now a month behind us, public sentiment for independence in Alberta has shifted. Toward the positive side.Leger has found that an eye popping 47% of Albertans are supportive of independence. With only a three-point margin to cover for a winning referendum and with clear momentum on its side, the independence movement is stronger than it has ever been. To dismiss this populist prairie fire at this point would be foolhardy to say the least. To say a positive independence vote is impossible is to deny reality..I am going to offer a bit of free advice to federalists who don’t want Alberta to vote to leave the federation.Stop telling Albertans they can’t leave. They can. The Clarity Act has laid out the legal pathway to provincial independence, and Albertans are already well on their way to a referendum. When you tell a Westerner they can’t do something, you won’t discourage them. You will only inspire them to work harder to get the job done.Stop insulting Albertans. Debasing and belittling Albertans doesn’t endear them to the federation. That sort of tactic feeds the analogy of Alberta being part of an abusive relationship with a spouse who will only assault rather than listen..Nearly half of Albertans have decided they would be better served if they province left Canada. This isn’t a short-term flash in the pan. Albertans didn’t come to this decision lightly. It is the culmination of decades of regional abuse under a broken system. People will not go back to the concept of the federation easily.I remember when taking marketing long ago I was taught that the toughest person to win was one who has already had a negative experience with you.Albertans won’t come back to the federation without some coaxing. They have been burned too many times and for too long. They see a brighter future for themselves and their children in an independent Alberta right now.Federalists who want to prevent the dissolution of the federation must woo Albertans back into the fold..Albertans increasingly are seeing why they would be better off leaving confederation. They know why they should go and nearly half of them are ready to make the leap. Life is a series of cost-benefit analyses when making decisions. The cost of remaining within the federation has become much higher than the benefits it may offer.That ratio must change if the wave of independence support in Alberta is to recede.Albertans have tried for decades to achieve change within the system and have been stymied with every attempt. They are now going to leave the system altogether.The ball is in the rest of Canada's court, now. Change the system dramatically or accept the departure of Alberta and possibly the rest of Western Canada.Those opposing the independence of Alberta must answer this question and effectively:Why should Alberta stay?
