Young Albertans drive rising support for independence

Young Albertans are driving a massive surge in support for Alberta independence, a new poll reveals, with separatist sentiment sharply climbing among voters under the age of 35.

Source: Wikimedia Commons

Young Albertans are driving a massive surge in support for Alberta independence, a new poll reveals, with separatist sentiment sharply climbing among voters under the age of 35.

Support for Alberta separating from Canada is highest among young people, according to a Research Co. survey.

The poll found that 42 per cent of Albertans aged 18 to 34 supported the province becoming an independent country, a 15-point increase since 2023. Support was lowest among those 55 and older, despite a nine-point jump compared to June 2023.

Overall support for Alberta becoming independent was 31 per cent.

When asked whether Alberta should join the United States, overall support fell to 24 per cent. However, those wanting the province to join its southern neighbour were again highest among those aged 18 to 34 and lowest among those 55 and older.

Research Co. noted that overall support for separation has climbed nine points since a similar poll conducted in June 2023.

Thursday’s poll was released two days after Alberta Prosperity Project General Counsel Jeffrey Rath became the first Albertan to sign the petition for an Alberta independence referendum.

Meanwhile, former Progressive Conservative cabinet minister Thomas Lukaszuk already submitted a petition to Elections Alberta that met the threshold for a referendum. Soon after, he was accused of misleading his signatories when he disavowed holding a vote despite the petition explicitly calling for a referendum.

Lukaszuk’s petition proposed a referendum on the question: “Do you agree that Alberta should remain in Canada?”

Thursday’s poll also found support for Alberta independence was 29 per cent in Edmonton, 31 per cent in Calgary, and 34 per cent in the rest of the province.

The desire for independence was clearly divided along party lines.

Albertans who voted for the UCP in the 2023 election were more likely to support independence than those who voted for the NDP, at 40 per cent and 11 per cent, respectively.

Those who wish to sign the petition to hold a referendum can do so in person at various events throughout the province.

Signature collection is authorized from Jan. 3 to May 2, 2026, and requires 177,732 valid signatures to succeed. This threshold represents 10 per cent of the total votes cast in the 2023 provincial general election.

Rath told True North the Alberta Prosperity Project aims to collect one million signatures.

He said they will do everything in their power to collect more signatures than Thomas Lukaszuk, who surpassed 450,000 for his anti-separation petition.

The question on the petition reads:

“Do you agree that the Province of Alberta should cease to be a part of Canada to become an independent state?”