Alberta separatists launch 'Let Alberta Decide' referendum campaign

A campaign to convince Albertans to leave Canada launched Friday, with organizers promising a fact-based approach to convince the province it has the resources to go it alone.

About 35 people attended the "Let Alberta Decide" campaign kickoff at a Calgary hotel ballroom. The campaign aims to use news media, social media, advertising, and public engagement to make its case.

Keith Wilson, a prominent separatist advocate who recently debated former Alberta Premier Jason Kenney on the topic, acknowledged the challenge ahead. "We're definitely the underdog and I do believe if the vote were held today, we wouldn't be successful," he told reporters. "But I think a lot of people haven't engaged on this or the information they've received has been very skewed from those who are advocating in support of Ottawa."

Co-chair Tanya Clemens, a fourth-generation southern Alberta farmer and educator, said she was previously undecided. "I was more of a proponent at one point back before I learned a bunch about this, of a sovereign Alberta within or without Canada," she said. "But as I started to gain some education and the steps we've taken through history — I realized we can't do this within Canada anymore."

Premier Danielle Smith announced that on October 19, Albertans will vote on whether to stay in Alberta or hold a second referendum on separation. Smith says hundreds of thousands of Albertans have weighed in on the topic and deserve to be heard, though critics say she is appeasing separatist hardliners in her party.

Smith has promised to push for a pro-Canada vote. Conservative MPs are also planning to campaign on the pro-Canada side. However, the debate itself is splitting communities — a rodeo parade in Sundre was cancelled following threats and abuse over rejection of a separation-themed float, and separation advocate Cory Morgan was told to take down a pro-separation billboard in Taber.