‘We’re Canadians’: Some Albertans divided about separation in cross-province checkup

In the southern Alberta town where the premier, his wife and their dog live, rows of Canadian flags are flown on tall poles and in well-kept yards.

Kathleen Sokvitne, who has lived on a street in High River, about 60 kilometres south of Calgary, for 30 years, says the flags show that not all Albertans are on board with the new push for secession.

“It worries me that the number of people who support secession is increasing,” she said in her yard.

Sokvitne believes that Premier Daniel Smith’s remarks and the legislation his government has introduced to make it easier for people to hold a referendum are paving the way for secessionists. Smith has previously said that those calling for secession are not fringe voices unhappy with Ottawa’s handling of the situation.

“He’s tricking the people of this province into thinking we should actually think about secession,” Sokvint said. “It’s completely absurd. We don’t all think that way. I’m completely against it.”

Diverse views

After speaking with a number of Albertans — from High River in the south to Edmonton in the north — it became clear that views on secession are as diverse as the province itself.

Some Albertans are unhappy with Ottawa, and a minority want secession. Others say secession would be illogical.

A few blocks from Sokvint’s house, Richard Engler, a 76-year-old musician, is drinking coffee with friends at a local café and says he agrees with Smith.

While the premier has said he doesn’t endorse secession, he has stressed that Albertans have serious reasons to be unhappy with the federal government.

“Deep down, we are Canadian,” Engler said.

“Western Canada has always paid for our existence here,” he added. “We need jobs, infrastructure, energy sources to do all of that.”

In Okotoks, north of High River, a cellphone repair shop owner said the issues should be resolved through dialogue.

“I love living in Canada and I don’t want to see a split,” said Muhammad Iqbal, 39, who immigrated to Ontario from Pakistan in 2001 and to Calgary in 2008.

“I don’t understand what this split is about or what the basis is for it.”

In Didsbury, north of Calgary, Jim Penner, a computer business owner, said that a split is futile and dangerous.

Penner, 60, said, “These issues should be resolved through dialogue, not through threats of a split. “I don’t see any benefit in it, financially or politically.”

He added that his father was a farmer and a separatist who always resented government control over his livelihood, so he understands why some people are upset.

Louder voices

But at a Tim Hortons in Gasoline Alley, just above Didsbury, Cameron Davies, leader of the Alberta Republican Party, said separatists were not being aggressive.

His party has called for a referendum on Alberta’s secession. Davis, 35, said secession would be an opportunity for Alberta to shape its relationship with Canada and the world on its own terms.

“It’s like staying in a toxic, abusive relationship,” he said. “We need to get out of this relationship and then see if we want to have a new relationship.”

Davis said his party's membership has doubled to 20,000 since the federal election and the re-election of the Liberals led by Mark Carney.

“Most of the members are between the ages of 25 and 45, and they feel that previous Liberal governments have made life difficult for them. Young people are finding it increasingly difficult to buy a house and make ends meet,” he added.

Jesse Allen, a 22-year-old pastor in Lloydminster, on the Alberta-Saskatchewan border, agreed.

Allen said,

“Albertans have no say in the decisions, and that has to change.”

He stressed, however, that he would only vote for secession in a referendum if Saskatchewan and British Columbia joined Alberta.

In Red Deer, Anita Ewan, a university professor and mother of seven, said she couldn’t understand why the Alberta government was getting involved in the debate.

“Separation deepens the divisions in society and marginalizes the most disadvantaged,” she said.

In the Sherwood Park area east of Edmonton, Karen McClain said Albertans should engage with Ottawa, not threaten secession.

“The more you make noise, the more your voice will be heard,” she said. “It makes it seem like everyone wants secession, when in fact, very few do.”

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