Danielle Smith is the premier of Alberta, Canada's energy-producing powerhouse, and leader of the United Conservative Party. Within hours of Mark Carney's Liberal election victory on April 28th 2025, she announced plans to lower the number of petition signatures needed to trigger referendums—including on Alberta's secession—from 600,000 to 177,000.
Ms Smith insists she is making an earnest attempt to allay Albertan anger, not to guide her province out of the federation. She has admitted she thinks a referendum might help her politically by putting the question of independence to rest while fending off the re-energised right wing of her party. She wants guarantees that oil and gas pipelines will be built immediately, particularly to the Pacific and the Asian market beyond. "If I'm successful, then that will mean there may not be a question," she has said.
Data released on May 23rd 2025 by Léger, a pollster, found that 47% of Albertans support independence, with 48% saying they would vote against it. Naheed Nenshi, leader of Alberta's left-wing New Democratic Party, has compared Ms Smith's referendum gamble to David Cameron's Brexit strategy. Alberta has been sending Conservative MPs to Ottawa for decades, only to see its desire to streamline oil and gas production repeatedly thwarted by eastern Liberals. The province has 45 indigenous groups whose relationship with the government is based on treaties with the British Crown.
Ms Smith has said that Mark Carney's agreement to boost Alberta's oil and gas output would end "dark times" between her province and the federal Liberals.
The meek shall inherit the earth, but *not* its mineral rights.