Frustration with the federal government’s treatment has sparked renewed separatist sentiment in Alberta, particularly after the Conservatives’ election loss. Recent rallies highlight this discontent, echoing past movements driven by disillusionment with policies like the National Energy Program in the 1980s and more recently, Liberal legislation affecting the energy sector. While Alberta Premier Danielle Smith’s government has made it easier to hold a referendum on separation, the separatist movement has historically struggled to gain significant electoral success, with only one separatist elected in 1982.
