Separatists in Canada oil province seek independence referendum

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Alberta: The political stability of Canada is facing a significant challenge as separatists in the oil-rich province of Alberta prepare to submit a petition on Monday to force a referendum on independence.

The group Stay Free Alberta claims to have gathered more than the required 178,000 signatures to trigger the vote.

While the movement remains a minority, support for secession has reached a historic high of approximately 30%. This surge is driven by deep-seated grievances over federal control of Alberta's oil industry and the 2025 election of Prime Minister Mark Carney, whose climate policies are widely unpopular in the region.

Furthermore, the movement has been emboldened by rhetoric from the U.S. administration, which has described Alberta and the United States as ‘natural partners’.

However, legal hurdles remain; Alberta’s First Nations have filed a court challenge, arguing that independence would violate treaty rights.