American interference and the United Conservative Party government's ambivalence are fanning the flames of Alberta separatism, former deputy premier Thomas Lukaszuk told a packed crowd at the Chateau Lacombe on Wednesday.
Addressing the Canadian Club, the founder of the Forever Canadian movement said that after extraordinary health measures chafed Albertans—especially men between 18 and 45—this constellation of stars aligning definitely made them more vocal, more robust, and more determined to pursue their views.
Fertile Ground for Unrest
Lukaszuk explained that fertile ground for unrest is being exploited by political forces. He noted that domestically, political parties exploit this anger and dissatisfaction through populist strategies and politicking. However, it is also noticed externally, and the United States has been watching these developments very closely.
The question of American interference is coming up from domestic and international media, a concept no longer based on circumstantial evidence. Lukaszuk stated, We have actual evidence that certain players from the United States are very pivotal in the orchestration of the separatist movement and empowering and fuelling that anger that feeds the separatist movement.
Role of Social Media and AI
Lukaszuk pointed first to American-owned social media platforms, saying the manipulation of algorithms plays a key role. He referred to the cesspool of algorithms feeding negative information, creating virtual communities of like-minded people where fact-checking is absent, and individuals reconfirm their biases without seeing other points of view.
He also highlighted that a handful of YouTube channels broadcasting from the Netherlands were operated by American companies. Using AI, they simulate visuals and sound to produce fake newscasts that appear to be produced from Canada. It's really from a third party outside of Canada, being monetized for the numbers of clicks that it gets, so there is a corporate component with social media and the use of AI that feeds into it, Lukaszuk said.
Washington's Involvement
Beyond evidence, Lukaszuk argued that it is obvious Washington has been involved because of meetings, which Washington does not deny holding with Alberta separatists. He mentioned four known meetings in Washington and one additional at Mar-a-Lago with the leader of the Alberta Republican Party. If any one of us in this room was to call the White House and ask for a meeting, I'm pretty sure we wouldn't get one. So, these meetings obviously are welcome, are being scheduled, are being orchestrated, and that is obviously problematic from our national security perspective and our sovereignty perspective, he concluded.
