Alberta Premier Danielle Smith has told separatist members within her United Conservative Party (UCP) to abandon their public support for Alberta’s independence or consider joining another political party. Members of the party’s local organizations, including those in her own electoral region, have backed her position.
The move follows Monday’s referendum, in which preliminary results showed voters rejected the proposal to hold a formal referendum on Alberta’s separation from Canada by a margin of approximately three to one.
On Wednesday, Smith told UCP members that the referendum result had become part of the party’s political position. She warned that members who continued publicly advocating separation would not be welcome as UCP candidates or local party board members in the 2027 provincial election.
Smith argued that continued internal divisions could weaken the party’s electoral prospects next year.
‘We Have to Stay United,’ Smith Says
In a video message and subsequent news conference on Wednesday, Smith said separatists had been given an opportunity to express their views, but the issue had now been settled by voters.
She said party members remained free to hold personal opinions but would face consequences if they continued publicly campaigning for Alberta’s independence while remaining active in the UCP.
“We have to stay united. If we don’t stay united, our party will fracture, and Alberta will suffer greatly as a result,” Smith said.
Smith had supported Alberta remaining part of Canada during the referendum campaign. However, the opposition New Democratic Party (NDP) criticised her for allowing the question of separation to advance to a referendum in the first place.
Concerns have also emerged that pro-independence groups could seek to increase their influence within the UCP to keep their movement alive following the referendum defeat.
Provincial Minister Says Party Members Support Smith
Provincial Minister Justin Wright told CBC News that UCP members of the legislature and several local party boards were fully supporting the premier’s position.
Wright, who represents the Cypress-Medicine Hat constituency, said there was clear agreement within the party behind Smith’s stance. He added that several constituency organizations, including his own, had passed resolutions endorsing her position.
According to Wright, cabinet members met the day after the referendum, while a meeting of the party’s legislative caucus was scheduled for Wednesday.
Separatists Seek to Remain Active Within the UCP
Last month, the UCP’s Highwood constituency association passed a resolution calling for a review of the party’s leadership. At least 22 constituency associations must support the proposal for it to be brought forward at the party’s annual general meeting, scheduled for late November.
Some prominent supporters of Alberta independence have described becoming more active within the UCP as the next stage of their campaign following the referendum defeat.
Alan Rose, a former president of the UCP association in Cypress-Medicine Hat, said the party needed to make a decision on separation soon because the issue had emerged from within its own ranks.
Rose said he had voted against holding another referendum. In his view, the clear majority opposing the separation proposal had given Smith an opportunity to move forward.
He added that groups within the UCP had previously sought to take the party in different directions, but he believed most members did not want Alberta to pursue independence.
Rose expressed hope that Smith would use the support she had received to advance the genuine interests of Alberta residents.
What Were the Referendum Results?
Preliminary province-wide results indicated that approximately 75 per cent of voters supported Alberta remaining a Canadian province.
By Wednesday evening, unofficial results showed that 63 per cent of voters in the Brooks-Medicine Hat constituency had supported remaining in Canada. In Cypress-Medicine Hat, the corresponding figure stood at 68 per cent.
The results have strengthened Smith’s efforts to unite the UCP around continued membership in Canada. However, some separatist supporters are seeking to maintain their influence within the party, leaving the possibility of further internal disagreements.
The challenge for Smith will be to keep the UCP united ahead of the 2027 provincial election while managing divisions over Alberta’s constitutional future.
