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canadian Unity Under Threat as Separatist Movements Gain Momentum
A growing rift within Canada, fueled by separatist ambitions in Alberta and Quebec, dominated discussions at this week’s Council of the Federation meetings in Ottawa. Provincial leaders voiced strong opposition to independence movements, with accusations of “treason” leveled against those seeking foreign support, even as the possibility of a new Quebec referendum looms large.
The Council of the Federation concluded its meetings on Thursday with a unified call for national unity, a response to escalating tensions surrounding independence movements in both Alberta and Quebec. The backdrop to these discussions is a shifting geopolitical landscape, with the United States increasingly perceived as a disruptive force on the world stage.
The urgency stems from recent political developments. polling data indicates the Parti Québécois is gaining traction ahead of upcoming provincial elections, with leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon promising a sovereignty referendum should his party win. concurrently, the Alberta separatist movement, while currently lacking important political representation, has been steadily gaining ground since the tenure of prime Minister justin Trudeau.
Albertans Seek U.S. Support
Reports surfaced this week, citing a Financial Times article, detailing meetings between members of the Trump administration and the Alberta Prosperity Project, a separatist group advocating for provincial independence. The group reportedly sought a $500 billion credit line from the U.S. Treasury to finance a potential new nation, contingent on a successful referendum. Since January 2nd, the Alberta Prosperity Project has been actively collecting signatures to trigger such a vote, engaging with communities near Edmonton.
Adding to the concern, recent weeks have seen members of the former Trump administration openly expressing support for Alberta’s independence, with some suggesting the possibility of annexation by the United States.
“Going to a foreign country to ask for help in dividing Canada, there’s a good old word for that: treason,” declared a senior official from British Columbia during a press conference on Thursday. Ontario’s premier echoed this sentiment, expressing disappointment and calling on the Alberta Premier to “stand up and say ‘enough is enough.'”
Responding to the accusations,Alberta’s Premier acknowledged a desire for the province to remain within Canada but stated she “could not ignore the approximately 30% of Albertans who have lost hope” in the Canadian federation.She also expressed expectations that the United States would refrain from interfering in Canada’s internal affairs.
Quebec Referendum Fears Resurface
The specter of a renewed push for Quebec independence also dominated the discussions. Ontario’s Premier went further, labeling a potential Parti Québécois victory a “disaster” and predicting a referendum on separation within a year and a half, calling the prospect “unacceptable.”
Premiers from New Brunswick,Nova Scotia,and Manitoba also voiced opposition to another Quebec independence referendum,though adopting a more measured tone than their Ontario counterpart.
The reaction was swift within Quebec’s National Assembly. The leader of the Parti Québécois dismissed the criticisms as a sign of “panic,” while Québec solidaire, a left-leaning pro-independence party, expressed similar sentiments. The Liberal Party of Quebec, though, aligned itself with the views of Ontario’s Premier.
