Sarah Mills: Alberta's referendum is Canada's wake-up call
Sarah Mills says Canada needs better collaboration between Ottawa and the provinces. She says what's good for Quebec sho...
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith told the separatist faction of her United Conservative Party that if they can’t get behind a pro-Canada position, they should hand in their memberships.
In a social media video Wednesday, Smith said the party can’t afford to be split over the separation issue and raised the spectre of losing next year’s provincial election to the Opposition NDP.
Her comment comes after Albertans voted overwhelmingly in Monday’s referendum to have the province stay in Canada and rejected the idea of holding a second, binding referendum on separation.
The premier said she knows that some who voted against Confederation are members of her United Conservatives, and that she doesn’t hold “ill will” toward them.
“What matters now is that, as a party, we accept the results of the referendum and support and implement the clear mandate given to us by Albertans to pursue a strong Alberta within a united Canada,” Smith said.
For those who can’t accept that, and instead have their sights on turning the UCP into a separatist party, Smith said: “I would respectively invite them to join a different party.”
“I’m simply not prepared to watch a few individuals tear apart the incredible conservative movement we’ve built together only to see the disastrous NDP become the government in our province.”
Smith said this applies to future candidates, as well as party officials and constituency association boards.
Polls leading up to Monday’s vote had suggested that a slight majority of UCP members were leaning in favour of holding a binding separation referendum. Separatist leaders have pushed it further, claiming party members who want to see Alberta go its own way represent a “supermajority” of the rank-and-file.
The referendum result and Smith’s pledge to not hold a binding vote has led some in the separatist movement to call either for the premier’s resignation or for a leadership review at the party’s annual general meeting next month.
Asked by reporters later Wednesday if she would expel or disqualify those who want to keep the separation debate alive within the party, Smith said she’d wait to see if it becomes necessary.
“I’m asking people to do some self-reflection,” Smith said.
“If they are able to accept the results and the mandate that Albertans gave us through a free and democratic process, then we can have a reset, and those who cannot, they have opportunities through other political parties.”
She said the party’s lone objective for the next year is to beat the NDP.
“Nothing else matters if we fail on that mission,” she said.
The next election is set for Oct. 18, 2027.
UCP legislature member Jason Stephan, who had pleaded with Albertans to vote for a binding referendum, announced Monday as referendum polls closed that he won’t seek re-election.
Smith said Wednesday that Stephan decided to walk away on his own, and that she supported his decision.
University of Calgary political scientist Lisa Young said Smith drawing a line with party members could suggest the premier is concerned she can’t win over Calgary or Edmonton voters unless the separation issue is stamped out.
“She clearly thinks that she’s in trouble,” Young said.
She said Smith has been successful as UCP leader because she is skilled at placating party members no matter their position.
“If you dance with the one that brung you, these are the ones that brung her,” she said.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 21, 2026.
— with files from Dayne Patterson in Calgary
Jack Farrell and Lisa Johnson, The Canadian Press
