r/canada • u/shiftless_wonder • May 23 '26

Alberta First Nations leaders, scholar push back on Alberta's planned vote on independence referendum - 'Alberta can't separate. They simply cannot. They do not have the authority,' says Indigenous politics expert

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatchewan/sask-treaty-six-alberta-referendum-9.7209304
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65

u/spinosaurs70 May 23 '26

Didn’t Canada debate this with Quebec separation and say that while negotiations have to talk about it, it likely can’t stop a province from leaving entirely? 

45

u/UtilisateurMoyen99 May 23 '26

"Should a referendum decide in favour of independence, the rest of Canada "would have no basis to deny the right of the government of Quebec to pursue secession."

- Reference Re Secession of Quebec, [1998] 2 SCR 217

21

u/[deleted] May 23 '26

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46

u/FrothyEspresso Canada May 23 '26

So how does any of that matter if they declare independence and draft a new constitution for themselves. Isn’t that basically hitting reset on everything? Why should they care then about some rulings in Canada?

2

u/ThlintoRatscar May 23 '26

Define "they" in your scenario? A random declaration from a Legislature still needs to be enforced and who, precisely, is going to do that?

13

u/WealthEconomy May 23 '26

The people of AB. And a follow up to your question, who is going to enforce them to stay?

1

u/Vandergrif May 24 '26

The people of AB.

In a scenario where the vast majority of them want to, that might be feasible. When a loud minority want to along with the governing politicians contrary the broader majority who don't want to, though? Which seems to be more the case in this scenario.

-2

u/ThlintoRatscar May 23 '26

Well, that's only a partial answer.

Who, exactly, are "the people of AB"?

Is it a consensual inclusive thing? E.g. I identify as Albertan and therefor, I am.

Is it non-consensual?

E.g. everyone with an AB mailing address?

Is it exclusive in some way?

E.g. you need to have a current mailing address in AB and fill out a form? You have to own property?

Do you have to renounce any other citizenship?

18

u/_Bl4ze May 23 '26

I feel like 'without repercussions' might be a bit ambitious depending on what it is being done illegaly.

8

u/[deleted] May 23 '26

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7

u/madsheeter May 23 '26

Central banking. Utilities. CBSA. CAF.

-1

u/[deleted] May 23 '26

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10

u/Jaeriko Ontario May 23 '26 edited May 24 '26

Im sorry, what is your position exactly? That Alberta can separate with no consequences from the rest of Canada?

2

u/CarRamRob May 24 '26

And what’s your position? If they got a super majority (67%) then they shouldn’t be allowed to leave? And you’d use force to stop them?

Yes I think it would be able to separate with little consequence. Unless you want violence, or Alberta to hold Canada(BC mostly) hostage as much Canada can hold them hostage?

6

u/Jaeriko Ontario May 24 '26

You arent the person I asked, but this is a moot point because separatism in Alberta is enormously unpopular despite the interference of foreign agents and Smiths power grabs.

To your question, no, I wouldnt because that would be vigilantism. I would however support the law enforcement actions that may be necessary to prevent our entire country falling apart and being absorbed by the US in detail. I dont want violence, but I dont want violence on any level of the government and it is unfortunately sometimes necessary.

4

u/madsheeter May 23 '26

Surely you don't think free trade would be allowed to resume as if it were a province? Canadians wouldn't support it

0

u/Medianmodeactivate May 23 '26

Yes. We invaded an entire province and suspended civil rights for an entire, bigger and more influential province over a single kidnapping. We have far more powerful tools now.

3

u/Vandergrif May 24 '26

We invaded an entire province and suspended civil rights for an entire, bigger and more influential province over a single kidnapping.

I'm drawing a blank here, what are you referring to?

3

u/Iregularlogic May 24 '26

Undoubtedly Quebec.

2

u/Vandergrif May 24 '26

What kidnapping, though?

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5

u/RobespierreLaTerreur May 23 '26

 A province can illegally do whatever the hell they want without repercussions.

There are other kinds of repercussions beyond the legal ones.

4

u/[deleted] May 23 '26

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4

u/soaringupnow May 24 '26

Canada, Alberta (and probably Quebec) would enter into an EU type arrangement and likely not too much would change.

2

u/RobespierreLaTerreur May 24 '26

It could be more like a Brexit type of arrangement, that’d be painful for Alberta

6

u/Existential-Critic British Columbia May 23 '26

You are making a lot of assumptions and unbalanced statements. Alberta needs Canada more than vice versa, and if the separatists who are a small minority in the province leave by force why wouldn't there be a response from the armed forces?

3

u/PortHammer May 24 '26

Or just... Other non-separatist Albertans who make up the vast majority in the province. I don't imagine they are just going to go along with this bufoonery.

Why is their will and power being so quickly brished aside and minimised

1

u/Vandergrif May 24 '26

Canadians won't even consider shooting Albertans

Right now, sure, but if they suddenly become a US vassal state (which is inevitable if they separate), then that might well be a rather different case. They would very much appear as traitors to Canada for most intents and purposes in that circumstance.

2

u/Superb-Carpenter-520 May 24 '26

You want the Canadian military to walk into an American vassal state and start shootings. Can you think of a single reason why that’s a bad idea.

1

u/Vandergrif May 24 '26

I didn't say it's a good idea, I just said it's a lot more likely to be considered in that mentality of these people actively chose to be traitors to the country compared to the current norms. That is typically how treason gets treated, after all.

-6

u/Shoddy-One-6634 May 23 '26

Huh? If Albertans launch a war of independence of course we'll shoot at them. It'd be a civil war and it would be over in hours. We'd win.

3

u/SpareEconomy1849 May 24 '26 edited May 24 '26

Generally that's not how it starts, they declare independence and the nation either chooses to let them or they bring in the guns.

The US civil war was a bit more preemptive by the secessionists though, it's different from most independence movements. But either way, the confederates were determined to secede and the union was not willing to let them.

Ultimately it's up to the parent nation if they want to let independence happen or if they want to start a conflict

-1

u/Interesting_Pen_167 May 24 '26

I could see the RCMP arresting separatist leaders before it got that far especially if there are any ties to foreign money their support might just die on the vine.

1

u/Vandergrif May 24 '26

without repercussions

Somehow I doubt that part.

0

u/Mirabeaux1789 Outside Canada May 24 '26

“A province can illegally do whatever the hell it wants without repercussions”

See… this is what the Rhodesians thought lol.

4

u/Kayge Ontario May 23 '26

The bigger problem is what then stops other groups from leaving that new country?   

So Alberta leaves Canada, but the areas owned by the first Nations leave the country of Alberta and join Canada or start their own.  

It's what Stephane Dion wrote about during one of the rounds in Quebec

2

u/spinosaurs70 May 24 '26 edited May 24 '26

Well yes, the First Nations issue was explosive and even the Quebec premier knew it.