By Julio César Rivas
Toronto, Canada, (EFE).- While separatist sentiment is declining in Quebec, it is gaining traction in Canada’s western provinces, particularly Alberta, just days ahead of the Apr. 28 federal elections.
Polls predict a comfortable victory for Liberal Prime Minister Mark Carney, despite the Conservative Party’s significant lead earlier this year.
In Quebec, Liberal has risen to 48%, far ahead of the separatist Bloc Québécois which trails by 23 points.
Many Quebec sovereigntists are now backing the Liberals, viewing a Carney government as a bulwark against external threats, notably those posed by United States President Donald Trump.
Meanwhile, separatist sentiment is intensifying in Alberta, the heart of Canada’s powerful oil industry, and to a lesser extent in neighboring Saskatchewan.
A recent poll found that three in ten residents of Alberta and Saskatchewan would consider secession if the Liberals win.
Former Reform Party leader Preston Manning fueled the debate by warning in an op-ed in The Globe and Mail that Mark Carney poses a “threat to national unity.”
Manning argued that while separatism is waning in Quebec, it is growing in Alberta, fueled by resentment toward federal Liberal policies.
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith has also questioned Canada’s unity in recent statements, demanding greater attention from Ottawa.
Experts like Grace Skogstad, a University of Toronto political science professor specializing in Canadian federalism, noted that Alberta’s discontent is rooted in economic grievances rather than ethnic nationalism, contrasting it with Quebec’s historical separatist movements.
“Alberta feels historically disrespected, particularly regarding energy policy,” Skogstad said.
Lewis Krashinsky, a political scientist at the University of Toronto, emphasized that despite genuine resentment, a referendum on separation remains unlikely.
“Beyond Manning’s comments, this is a unique moment in Canada where national identity and unity are at their strongest,” he added.
Both scholars agree that the lack of a strong separatist leader in Alberta, unlike Quebec’s past movements, further diminishes the possibility of a serious independence drive. EFE
jcr/seo
