“Alberta Wants Out”: Could Canada Actually Break Apart?
Wexit is back in the headlines—but how real is Alberta’s push for independence?
It always starts with oil, doesn’t it?
Alberta has always been Canada’s economic powerhouse—and its loudest rebel. With each new federal policy that hits the West hard, the rumblings start again: “What if Alberta left Canada?”
In 2025, with a possible Liberal win on the horizon and a growing divide between Ottawa and the oil sands, separatist sentiment is bubbling back to the surface. But before anyone packs their bags for independence (or the U.S.), let’s break this down: How real is Alberta’s separatist movement—and could it actually happen?
The Polls Say… Maybe.
According to a recent Angus Reid poll, 30% of Albertans say they’d consider separation if the Liberals win the next federal election.
That’s a drop from 50% in 2019—but still a serious chunk of the population. Especially considering how much of Alberta’s identity is wrapped up in being not-Ottawa.
This isn’t new. Alberta has long felt:
• Ignored in federal policy
• Over-taxed, underrepresented
• Villainized over oil and gas
The result? A constant, low simmer of resentment that occasionally flares into full-blown talk of Wexit—Western Exit.
Who’s Actually Pushing for This?
There’s no official Alberta independence campaign right now. But the embers are still warm.
• The Wexit movement (Western separatism) has rebranded multiple times and still maintains pockets of support online and in rural areas.
• Some Albertans are even calling to join the U.S. as the 51st state—a sentiment recently spotlighted in a New York Post article.
But it’s worth noting: Premier Danielle Smith is not on board.
She’s publicly said she wants Alberta to have more autonomy within Canada—not leave it. On her radio show, she downplayed the separation talk, saying there are more productive ways to address Alberta’s frustrations.
“We’re here to fix the federation—not tear it down.” – Danielle Smith
Could Alberta Legally Leave Canada?
Short answer: Not easily.
The Clarity Act, passed in 2000, says any province wanting to secede must:
• Hold a referendum with a clear majority
• Ask a clear question about secession
• Enter into negotiations with the federal government
Even if Alberta had a successful vote, Canada could just say no. There’s no clean legal path out—and every province and federal party would have to be involved in rewriting the Constitution.
Basically, Quebec couldn’t pull it off in 1995, and they had their own language, culture, and centuries-old identity. Alberta’s case? Even tougher.
Constitutional experts agree: It would be a long, messy legal fight
Danielle Smith and the “Join America” Moment
Here’s where things went from tense to full political soap opera.
In early 2025, a resurfaced clip from 2013 showed Danielle Smith, now Alberta’s premier, entertaining the idea of Alberta becoming part of the United States.
“If Ottawa doesn’t change, maybe it’s time we take our resources elsewhere. Even if that means looking south.”
– Danielle Smith, 2013 broadcast, now circulating online
At the time, she was leader of the Wildrose Party. She’s since walked that back, calling it “an old, out-of-context quote”, but it’s reignited fears (or fantasies, depending who you ask) that Alberta could seriously consider joining the U.S. if federal tensions boil over again.
Recently, Smith went on the record during her radio show to clarify:
“No, I don’t support Alberta becoming part of the United States. I support fixing Canada—not abandoning it.”
Still, that hasn’t stopped separatist groups—and some media outlets—from fantasizing about Alberta becoming the 51st state.
A March 2025 New York Post story profiled Albertans who say they’d welcome U.S. statehood if it meant lower taxes, fewer regulations, and more respect for oil and gas.
Is it realistic? No.
Is it telling? Hell yes.
It shows just how disconnected Alberta feels from the rest of the country—and how far some are willing to go to reclaim control over their future.
So Why Does the Idea Keep Coming Back?
Because for many Albertans, the system feels broken. They’re tired of:
• Getting blamed for oil and gas emissions while paying the federal bills
• Watching Ottawa side with provinces that offer fewer economic contributions
• Being told what to do by leaders who don’t understand—or care about—the West
This isn’t just about politics. It’s about dignity, representation, and a deep cultural split between “old Canada” and the new West.
The Faultline Take
Alberta probably won’t become a country—or the 51st state—but these conversations are canaries in the political coal mine.
If Canada doesn’t address the imbalance between East and West, between federal climate policy and Alberta’s economic survival, the cracks will only widen.
What starts as a soundbite becomes sentiment. And sentiment, left ignored, becomes strategy.
