Delegates at the United Conservative Party's annual general meeting responded with enthusiastic cheers and a standing ovation when confronted with a question about Alberta separation during Friday's proceedings.
Separation Sentiment Receives Loud Applause
The moment occurred during a bearpit session with Premier Danielle Smith and her cabinet ministers at the Edmonton Expo Centre on November 28, 2025. Jeffrey Rath, representing the Alberta Prosperity Project, directly asked thousands of UCP members if they supported a 'free and independent Alberta.' The question triggered immediate and loud applause throughout the venue.
Rath referenced the recent memorandum of understanding signed between Alberta and Ottawa, noting that 'the ink wasn't dry on the paper' before Mark Carney announced what he described as a '600 per cent increase to the industrial carbon tax in Alberta.' This context framed his provocative question to the assembled party members.
Smith's Response Draws Mixed Reaction
Premier Danielle Smith responded to the separation question by reiterating her consistent position: 'I support an independent Alberta within a United Canada.' This carefully worded response, which both she and her cabinet have used repeatedly when addressing separation concerns, generated a mixed reaction from the same crowd that had just applauded the independence question.
The exchange represented just one of several instances where separation discussions emerged throughout the first day of the three-day gathering. Earlier during Smith's opening talk with UCP president Rob Smith, another member of the Alberta Prosperity Project asked if the premier had reviewed their document claiming that 'an independent Alberta would reshape its fiscal environmental landscape.' That question also received positive cheers from attendees.
Recall Rule Changes Under Consideration
Beyond separation discussions, Premier Smith addressed another significant issue raised by party members: the recall legislation. Smith revealed that her government is considering modifying the rules governing recall processes in response to concerns from UCP members.
The premier highlighted the substantial costs involved, noting that 14 UCP MLAs are currently facing recall petitions. Smith expressed concern about the financial burden, stating that validating signatures for the current recall petitions could exceed one million dollars. She further warned that if recall petitions were filed against all 87 MLAs, the validation process alone could cost approximately $100 million, not including subsequent recall procedures or potential byelections.
While separation sentiment clearly resonated with many attendees, none of the official resolutions scheduled for Saturday addressed separatism directly. Other topics discussed during the meeting included independent policing and auto insurance, though the recently signed memorandum of understanding with Ottawa generated fewer questions and less strong response from members than the separation discussion.
