About 100 separatists gathered near the Calgary airport in early September to discuss Alberta’s future as an independent nation, reflecting a range of views on the province’s relationship with Canada. The event occurred just weeks before an Oct. 19 referendum that includes a question on whether Alberta should begin negotiating separation from the Canadian federation.
The attendees, composed of libertarian activists, former politicians, and various anti-establishment advocates, voiced frustration with what they describe as an increasingly centralized Canadian government and policies they believe are detrimental to Alberta’s interests. Among them was Darcy Gerow, a former deputy leader of the Libertarian Party of Canada, who delivered a speech advocating for an “anarcho-capitalist” government model that would privatize all aspects of society, arguing that only by eliminating state monopolies can Alberta secure true independence and autonomy.
Gerow framed Alberta’s grievances as part of a broader pattern of state overreach seen globally, contending that the province’s struggles with wealth extraction, regulatory limits, and erosion of provincial jurisdiction stem from the inherent nature of modern states to centralize power. He said the only way to protect civil liberties is through a fully privatized society, a vision he urged attendees to consider as part of the separatist movement’s goals.
Other voices at the gathering expressed a more pragmatic approach. Drew Barnes, a former United Conservative Party MLA ousted in 2021 for opposing vaccine mandates and other government policies, described Canada’s political system as “extremely broken” and criticized his former party for drifting away from principles like smaller government, lower taxes, and stronger property rights. Barnes has since launched a new political initiative called Alberta Now, aiming to run candidates exclusively in Alberta’s 37 federal electoral districts. The party’s goal is to better represent Alberta’s interests in Ottawa, similar to how the Bloc Québécois advocates for Quebec, and to provide leverage against federal policies perceived as biased toward Ontario and Quebec.
Barnes and other pragmatic separatists view the upcoming referendum primarily as a means to pressure Ottawa for constitutional and policy reforms, rather than outright secession. Proposed reforms include establishing a provincial police force, expanding provincial control over immigration, protecting gun ownership rights, and ending the federal equalization program. This camp sees Canada’s political framework as flawed but potentially salvageable through effective decentralization and greater provincial autonomy.
Conversely, hardline separatists reject reform within the existing federation, advocating instead for a complete dismantling of the Canadian state’s authority over Alberta. They argue that piecemeal attempts at negotiating greater power are insufficient given what they see as systemic, structural discrimination against Alberta.
Premier Danielle Smith and Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre have both opposed separation, advocating for negotiated changes that would devolve more control to provinces within Canada. Poilievre has emphasized the need to narrow federal government powers to respect provincial jurisdiction, a position aligning somewhat with pragmatic separatist goals but stopping short of supporting independence.
The upcoming referendum represents a critical moment for Alberta’s separatist movement, highlighting deep divisions between those seeking to reform Canada’s federation and those favoring full independence with radically reimagined governance models.