The Canadian province of Alberta may hold a referendum on secession from the country in 2026 if the region’s residents so desire, Premier Danielle Smith said on Tuesday.
According to Smith, the provincial government does not currently plan to put the question of Alberta’s secession from Canada to a referendum in 2026. However, if citizens manage to collect enough signatures to require the government to put the question to a public referendum, it will also be included on the ballot in 2026, Smith said. She added that she personally does not support the province’s separation from Canada.
Meanwhile, critics have accused Smith of being an apologist for separatists and creating instability that could jeopardise the province’s economy.
The Hill previously wrote that the separation of the French-speaking province of Quebec from Canada could make it easier for US President Donald Trump to annex the country to the US.
In his speeches, Trump has repeatedly stated that the majority of Canadians dream of their country becoming the 51st state of the US. Trump last addressed Canadians with a proposal for annexation on the day of the parliamentary elections.
