Muhammad Amanullah
Date: September 22, 2026 The True Post (Web News) —A political dispute has emerged within Alberta’s governing United Conservative Party (UCP) over how Premier Danielle Smith’s government is presenting the province’s upcoming referendum, particularly the question dealing with Alberta’s future within Canada.
The disagreement intensified after UCP President Rob Smith posted comments on social media suggesting that many party members are dissatisfied with the government and that a significant portion of the party’s base supports Alberta separation.
Premier Danielle Smith subsequently rejected the suggestion that her government is deliberately maintaining a neutral position on the separation question.
UCP President Raises Questions About Referendum Campaign
In a Facebook post, Rob Smith questioned the government’s approach to the referendum advertising campaign.
He suggested that the UCP has members who are unhappy with the direction of the government and said there is significant support within parts of the party for Alberta independence.
Rob Smith also raised questions about the government’s $4-million advertising campaign, which began on Sept. 10 ahead of the Oct. 19 referendum.
According to his account, Premier Danielle Smith had indicated to him that the government wanted to secure “Yes” votes on Questions 1 through 9, which deal with immigration policy, eligibility for provincial programs and constitutional reforms.
He also suggested that Question 10, which specifically asks Albertans to choose between remaining a province of Canada and beginning the legal process toward a future separation referendum, was receiving less promotional attention.
Danielle Smith Rejects the Characterization
Speaking in Airdrie on Monday, Premier Danielle Smith rejected the suggestion that her government was intentionally taking a neutral approach to Question 10.
Asked whether the government was deliberately keeping its messaging neutral on the separation issue, Smith replied that the characterization was not accurate.
She said the government’s advertising campaign is primarily focused on the first nine questions for which it is seeking a mandate.
Smith has repeatedly stated that her position is for a “sovereign Alberta within a united Canada.” She has also said she supports Alberta remaining part of Canada.
Government’s Position on Alberta Remaining in Canada
The Alberta government has formally distinguished between seeking greater provincial autonomy and supporting separation from Canada.
Smith has said the UCP government and caucus support strengthening Alberta’s powers while remaining within the Canadian federation.
In a previous address, Smith stated that she personally intends to vote for Alberta to remain in Canada while continuing to pursue greater provincial autonomy under the Canadian Constitution.
More recently, on Sept. 19, Smith spoke at an online forum about Alberta’s future and again argued for the province remaining within a united Canada.
What Is Question 10?
Question 10 was added to the referendum after the government initially announced nine questions earlier this year.
The official question asks Albertans to choose between two options: whether Alberta should remain a province of Canada, or whether the provincial government should begin the legal process required under the Canadian Constitution to hold a future binding referendum on separation.
Unlike Questions 1 through 9, Question 10 is a choice question rather than a yes-or-no question.
Elections Alberta states that the result of Question 10 is not binding and would not itself separate Alberta from Canada.
Nine Other Questions
The first nine referendum questions cover a range of immigration, social-program and constitutional issues.
They include proposals concerning increased provincial control over immigration, eligibility for provincially funded programs, residency requirements for certain non-permanent residents and potential fees for some temporary residents using provincial health and education services.
Another question concerns requiring proof of Canadian citizenship to vote in an Alberta provincial election.
Questions 6 through 9 deal with constitutional changes, including provincial involvement in selecting judges, abolishing the federal Senate, allowing provinces to opt out of certain federal programs while retaining associated funding, and strengthening provincial laws in areas of shared constitutional jurisdiction.
Alberta NDP Criticises the Dispute
The disagreement has also drawn criticism from the Alberta NDP.
NDP Deputy Leader Rakhi Pancholi argued that the statements from the UCP president and the premier reveal differences over how the referendum should be presented to voters.
The NDP has called for greater clarity from the governing party about its position on Alberta separation.
These comments are part of the broader political debate surrounding the referendum and do not represent an independent determination of the intentions of the UCP leadership.
$4-Million Advertising Campaign
The Alberta government launched a $4-million public information campaign on Sept. 10.
The campaign includes television and radio advertisements, online advertising, billboards and informational booklets distributed across the province.
The government has developed different versions of the campaign for Edmonton, Calgary and rural Alberta.
According to reporting on the campaign, advertisements released so far have focused heavily on the first nine referendum questions and have promoted the idea of a stronger and more sovereign Alberta within a united Canada.
Referendum Set for October 19
The Alberta referendum is scheduled for Oct. 19, 2026.
Elections Alberta says each referendum question will appear on a separate, numbered and colour-coded ballot, except for mail-in ballots, which will be white.
Questions 1 through 9 will require voters to select “Yes” or “No,” while Question 10 will require voters to select one of its two options.
Elections Alberta has also released the locations of more than 1,400 polling stations across the province. Advance voting is scheduled for Oct. 13 through Oct. 17, with 310 advance voting locations available.
Leadership Review Also in Focus
The referendum dispute comes as Danielle Smith faces questions about calls within the party for a leadership review.
Smith said Monday that she would address the leadership-review issue after the Oct. 19 referendum.
The referendum has therefore become a significant political issue both inside the UCP and across Alberta, with debate extending beyond the separation question to immigration, provincial autonomy and proposed constitutional reforms.
For now, the governing party’s stated position remains that Alberta should have greater provincial autonomy while remaining within Canada, while the referendum will allow voters to express their views on whether the province should remain in Canada or begin the constitutional process toward a future separation vote.
