After the 2025 election, Premier Danielle Smith didn’t sugarcoat it — a lot of Albertans are frustrated, and I totally get it. From what feels like years of the federal Liberal government targeting Alberta’s economy to the results of the election, tensions are high. Every time things heat up over pipelines, equalization payments, or Ottawa’s decisions, talk of Alberta separating from Canada pops up again. With all the issues around Western alienation, energy, and federal policies, that conversation doesn’t go away.
But here’s the thing — as tempting as it is to talk about Alberta going its own way, actually pulling it off would be a whole other ballgame.
Let’s take a look at why, realistically, Alberta separating from Canada is nearly impossible.
The Constitution Makes It Really Hard:
If Alberta wanted to separate, it wouldn’t be a walk in the park. The Constitution doesn’t exactly make it easy for provinces to just break away. Alberta would need to go through a lengthy process of negotiations with Ottawa and the other provinces. To change the Constitution to allow Alberta to leave, both Parliament and a majority of provinces would have to give their thumbs up — or, in some cases, everyone would need to agree. There are also things like Indigenous treaty rights and the legal rights of Alberta residents to think about. In other words, Alberta can’t just pack up and leave — it would need a massive and complex legal process.
Indigenous Treaties Complicate Things:
If Alberta were to separate, things would get even trickier with Indigenous treaties. There are a lot of Indigenous communities in Alberta, and they have legal agreements with Canada — treaties that cover land rights, resources, healthcare, and self-governance. So, figuring out what happens to those agreements if Alberta splits would be a massive headache.
Here’s why:
Legal Issues: Treaties are part of Canada’s Constitution, so if Alberta leaves, there would be all kinds of legal challenges. Indigenous groups would probably want to keep their agreements with the federal government, not a new Alberta government. That means a lot of talks would be needed to figure out if the treaties stay as is or need to be changed.
Land and Resources: Treaties give Indigenous nations rights to land and resources. If Alberta goes independent, there’d be questions about whether those rights still apply. Would they fall under Alberta’s new rules, or stay as they are with Canada?
Indigenous Sovereignty: Many Indigenous groups want more control over their own governance. If Alberta splits, they might push for their own independence. That would create a lot of tough negotiations about whether they stay under Alberta’s control or forge a new relationship.
Services and Rights: Treaties also guarantee things like healthcare and education, which could be disrupted if Alberta leaves. Indigenous communities would need guarantees that these services still exist, which means more talks on how separation would affect those agreements.
Nation-to-Nation Relationships: Indigenous groups view their relationship with the Crown as a “nation-to-nation” deal. If Alberta goes independent, would Indigenous communities still deal with Ottawa directly, or have to start fresh with the new Alberta government?
In short, if Alberta were to separate, figuring out what happens with Indigenous treaties would be a massive challenge. There’d be legal, political, and economic negotiations to make sure Indigenous rights are protected.
Economic Ties Run Deep:
Alberta’s economy is deeply tied to the rest of Canada. Oil, gas, agriculture, and services — Alberta relies on Canadian investment, markets, and transportation to keep things running.
If Alberta left, it would have to renegotiate trade deals not just with Canada, but with the U.S. and beyond. It’d have to figure out things like currency (its own? keep the Canadian dollar? switch to the U.S. dollar?). And then there’s the headache of setting up borders, customs, and regulatory systems from scratch.
The short-term hit would be brutal — job losses, businesses pulling out, and investors hesitant to commit. Even folks who are fed up with Ottawa aren’t exactly looking forward to that kind of chaos.
Internal Division Within Alberta:
The province is split on the idea of separation. Some are frustrated with federal control over oil and gas, and cultural and economic differences with other provinces make things worse. But there are plenty of people who still like the benefits of being part of Canada, like trade and security. Even if tough times in the oil sector fuel separatist talk, Alberta still relies heavily on the broader Canadian economy. Plus, there are huge legal roadblocks, like the Clarity Act, that make actual separation unlikely. So, it's a complex issue — rural areas and the oil industry lean toward separation, but urban areas and younger people tend to oppose it. There’s a mix of both economic and emotional reasons behind the divide.
Loss of National Programs and Services:
A lot of what Canadians rely on comes from national programs like the Canada Pension Plan, Employment Insurance, healthcare transfers, federal policing, and immigration systems. If Alberta left, it would have to build all of this from scratch. Not only would that be expensive, but it would also be a logistical nightmare.
International Recognition Isn’t Automatic:
Even if Alberta suddenly declared independence, it wouldn’t automatically become a country. International recognition is a huge deal, and it needs support from Canada, the U.S., and other key global players.
Considering how closely tied Canada and the U.S. are, the international community would likely push Alberta to negotiate with Ottawa rather than just giving it a green light as an independent country. Without that recognition, Alberta would be stuck in limbo — unable to sign treaties, trade properly, or really function as an independent nation.
Conclusion:
After the 2025 election, the idea of Alberta separating from Canada gained some traction, fueled by frustration over pipelines, equalization payments, and Ottawa’s handling of Western issues. While it’s easy to see why people would be upset, the reality of separation is way more complicated. Legal issues, Indigenous treaties, economic ties, and the loss of national programs make it a tough and impractical option. And without international recognition, Alberta breaking away just isn’t happening anytime soon.
