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National Post

'This is about the economy': What motivates Alberta separatists

With dedicated groups of Albertans pushing for the western province to secede from Canada, new polling shows that most of those living in the province reject this idea, while just over one-third support some form of independence from Canada. Article content Article content The Postmedia-Leger poll also found that 44 per cent of Albertans identify as 'primarily Canadian,' while only 21 per cent identify as primarily Albertan. A further 32 per cent say they identify as both equally. Article content Article content Sixty per cent of those who oppose separation say they identify as primarily Canadian; even among those who wish to see an independent Alberta, 23 per cent say they identify as primarily Canadian, while 45 per cent say they are primarily Albertan. Article content Article content When it comes to a future scenario involving an independent Alberta, the most popular idea, which received the support of 35 per cent of Albertans, would be an independent western bloc, from Manitoba to the Pacific Ocean. Thirty per cent support just Alberta and Saskatchewan breaking away and forming their own country, while 29 per cent would support Alberta going it alone. Article content Just 17 per cent of Albertans are interested in joining the United States. Article content 'I don't really see this as something that's been really steamrolling and gaining a ton of momentum. I think it's … probably been festering for a bit,' said Andrew Enns, Leger's executive vice-president, central Canada. 'Probably the re-election of the Liberals didn't help to diminish anything. But I wouldn't suggest also that it's actually added a bunch of fuel to the fire.' Article content Alberta Premier Danielle Smith has been a frequent critic of the federal government's approach to Alberta. When she met with Prime Minister Mark Carney prior to the election, she made a list of nine demands, many of them involving the energy sector, that she said she expected to see met within six months, or there could be an 'unprecedented national unity crisis.' Article content The majority of Albertans (53 per cent) support Smith's approach on those demands, while 34 per cent disagree. Eighty-three per cent of those who support separation also support Smith's approach, compared to 34 per cent of those who do not support separation. Article content Article content 'What she's doing is not completely offside with her voters and the electorate. I mean, her job is to represent Alberta and Albertans, and not necessarily do things that are going to make (Ontario) Premier (Doug) Ford happy,' said Enns. Article content The single largest individual motivation is economic, largely to do with resource management and taxation. Almost one third (30 per cent) of Albertans give economic factors as their primary reason, compared to eight per cent who identify political reasons — such as political underrepresentation — as their main motivation and five per cent who give cultural reasons, such as regional identity or values.