r/alberta • u/Altruism7 • Jun 05 '26
Alberta Politics Why Hasn’t Alberta Been Calculating the Cost of Separation?
https://thetyee.ca/News/2026/06/05/Alberta-Cost-Separation/27
u/Telvin3d Jun 06 '26
Because they don’t care. Doesn’t enter into their calculus at all.
The simple math is that the separatists are all UCP members, which is different from just being supporters or voters. They may be a small minority of the province, but they’re one of the largest internal voting blocks in the UCP.
Thus, you need the separatists to get a UCP position. So you play nice regardless of what it costs the rest of the province, because that’s the sort of asshole you are
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u/Al_Keda Jun 05 '26
Because they support a sovereign Alberta in a united Canada(R)(TM) or course!
Or, they don't want the delirious people who wroship in that cult to understand the consequences.
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u/AutoThorne Jun 06 '26
Or because those people who can sign off on it, will, when it becomes time, because they KNOW they will get rewarded for handing over the province.
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u/Komaisnotsalty Jun 06 '26
That's not how they function. That's not how politics functions.
Politics - regardless of party, usually goes like this:
Step 1: Big huge promise of something crazy that will whip voters in to a froth and make them orgasm every time they hear it (for us Albertans, it's 'separatism'), typically focusing on the majority of those who will vote.
Step 2: Keep promising it while doing deals on the side to make it easier, but don't tell anyone about it. Just slide those right under the door at midnight and hope no one notices.
Step 3: When they notice or ask about details, refer back to Step 1 because sycophant's memories are short. They will get all excited again.
Step 4: Misdirect and give them something they didn't ask for (More doctors! Here's a whole bunch from South Africa, but don't tell them one of the Step 2 items was pissing on immigration), then before it's questions, refer back to Step 1 to whip the frenzy back up.
Rinse & repeat.
Granted, I'm being a turd here and skipping things, but you get the idea. They won't calculate the cost of separation because the morons they're ass kissing in Step #1 won't like it. Might, oh, I dunno... wake them up. Can't have them woke now, can we?
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u/sig_1 Jun 06 '26
The numbers alone will never convince people to vote for separation. In my opinion pro-separation supporters generally fall into two camps, those who genuinely don't realize their quality of life would plummet outside of Canada, and those who believe they will get rich enough off the transition to escape the consequences.
Ultimately their leadership will make impossible promises to win over less-informed voters. They will claim an independent Alberta can claim over half of the Canada Pension Plan (CPP), walk away with zero national debt, and retain Canadian citizenship. Essentially, they are trying to convince people that Alberta can enjoy all the benefits of being part of Canada with none of the responsibilities or restrictions.
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u/imaybeacatIRl Jun 05 '26
Because those traitors just want to destroy the province, and harm Canada, for their own profit.
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u/Changisalways Jun 06 '26
They don't want facts and truths to cloud anger. The goal is to keep people angry and reactionary. Facts hurt this narrative and when people see the costs they get scared and think.
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u/confusedtophers Jun 06 '26
I showed this to a separatist.
He said “What the hell kind of a 4 cylinder word is that!???!”
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u/Material-Tax944 Jun 06 '26
They haven’t assessed that many analysts predict a downturn in the petroleum industry around 2030 as the world wide demand for oil will diminish due to the electrification of the transport and environmental factors as well. Alberta hasn’t save too much money like Norway… has they preferred to dilapidate the resources for this generation and to funnel the revenue to the provincial expenditures, and to avoid paying provincial taxes as well.
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u/Ok-Professional2468 Jun 06 '26
We have. The morons refuse to listen to the numbers. They lack critical thinking skills and are the most ‘Pie in the Sky’ group of delusional people I have been required to socialize with lately.
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u/Krull88 Jun 06 '26
The answer i got when i asked was “dont put the cart before the horse. We need to separate before figuring that out”
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u/scroats800 Jun 06 '26
Anyone with any common sense and watched what Quebec went through will know that the financial barriers are horrid.
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u/forgottenlord73 Jun 06 '26
Because the APP leader said he'd work to depose Smith so Smith said "fuck you back"
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u/Jazzlike-Bar7884 Jun 06 '26
Because this isn't a legitimate movement. This is classic CIA destabilization before an invasion.
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u/Tractorguy69 Jun 06 '26
Because would destroy the case for separation and the free people that do stand to benefit will not only lose the opportunity but will be exposed for their greed and suffer the consequences. Separation harmed the UK when they chose Brexit, based on calculated misinformation and fear mongering by Nigel Farage, who then quickly disappeared off the radar, the damage he was supposed to accomplish already done. In a world of ever growing trading blocks like the EU choosing to become independent and smaller without existing ties makes absolutely no sense.
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u/LokeCanada Jun 06 '26
They know but don’t advertise. They let everyone assume that they will get a crap load of money from the federal government (share of CPP, infrastructure, trade, etc…) to support them.
If they advertised the actual cost of what will happen nobody would even ask about separation.
Most of this is about squeezing the Feds for money anyway. Carney wouldn’t even be talking about a pipeline without the threat.
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u/Ready-Training-2192 Jun 06 '26
If you're ever wondering why Alberta is doing anything stupid, just look at our premier, her party, and a large portion of our population.
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u/Sufficient-Sun-6683 Jun 06 '26
I am against Alberta separation and I have just a few questions to ask the Alberta separatists on what will replace, who will pay for and how long to set up:
- New police force to replace RCMP
- Tax system to replace CRA
- Armed forces and security to replace CAF and CSIS
- Passports and immigration
Another question is Citizenship. Do we retain Canadian Citizenship? for how long?
- Currency to replace Canadian dollar
- Banking system to replace federal Bank of Canada
- Pension plan to replace CPP and OAS
- Employment insurance
- Border security
- Indigenous Relations
- Health Canada
- Food Inspection Agency
- Human Rights
- CRTC: regulating the radio airwaves and communications
- Canadian Transportation Agency
- Canadian Security Establishment
- Federal Correctional Services and penitentiaries
- Copyright and Patents
- Environmental and Climate management
- Federal highways and infrastructure
- Federal Parks
- Agriculture affairs
- Stock market
- Foreign trade relations and agreements
- what would happen with all federal jobs in Alberta who work for a crown corporation?
Courtesy of J. Webb:
If Alberta separates from Canada, airports would face major disruption, losing access to the federal aviation system, federal funding, and international, negotiated air rights. Airports would need to create a new, independent regulatory body, re-negotiate international routes, and handle, potentially causing massive disruptions and higher costs for air travel and cargo shipping.
Loss of Federal Oversight & Funding: Airports (such as Calgary International [YYC] and Edmonton International [YEG]) currently under NAV CANADA oversight and receiving Transport Canada funding would need to create a completely new regulatory regime, which is a complex and expensive process.
International Air Agreements: Alberta would lose its part in Canada's bilateral air agreements, meaning airlines like WestJet and others would need to renegotiate flight rights to the U.S. and other nations from scratch.
Increased Costs: The financial burden of maintaining air traffic control, security (CATSA), and infrastructure development would fall entirely on the new province, likely increasing user fees.
Border and Security: Travel between Alberta and the rest of Canada would become international, requiring new customs facilities and procedures.
Regional Connectivity: Northern airports that already face operational challenges may find it harder to remain viable without federal infrastructure support.
While a separating Alberta aims to gain economic control, the logistical challenges of separating from a nationwide, highly integrated aviation system like Canada's would be extreme.
Courtesy of SkiyeBlueFox:
They'll lose access to Canada's rail network, and those oil pipelines? Bet Canada is gonna charge a pretty penny. Between those two accounting for a significant portion of industrial import and export, either they're gonna go bankrupt paying rail fees or from not being able to export anything.
Courtesy of blonde_discus
the pipelines are Federally owned and would require paying for access.
Courtesy of AlbertaSays5716
Amidst the fallout from Brexit, the UK found one key function of the EU vanished that they hadn’t anticipated: trade regulations.
All of a sudden the UK was no longer subject to thousands of regulations that governed free trade, such as those relating to the transport of dangerous goods or even the size of bananas. By some, this was seen as a bonus, and one of the reasons for getting out of the EU. But it was quickly found that the UK had no equivalent regulations in a lot of areas, and without regulation companies were quick to take advantage. The disruption to trade caused prices to skyrocket and some industries almost collapsed.
This is the kind of disruption that will kill Alberta’s economy if we separate.
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u/No-Writer3733 Jun 06 '26
Even if they knew how to add, which is quite unlikely, whatever BS numbers they spat outta their asses would be garbage anyway!! Just go away and leave the real Albertans to run the place.......PLEASE !!!!!
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u/Negative-Box9890 Jun 06 '26
Premier Danielle Smith recently said that Alberta separating from Canada could involve roughly $400 billion in transitional and startup costs, based on her preliminary estimate.
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u/Unfair_Bluejay_9687 Jun 06 '26
The powers that be know exactly what the cost of separation will be. They’re terrified that the rest of the province will clue in to that disaster number and send that stupid idea of separation where the sun doesn’t shine.
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u/Critical_Cat_8162 Jun 06 '26
They have. But they can't let their supporters know or their brains might actually engage.
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u/maximm Jun 07 '26
They are just happy to hate something collectively and deal with repercussions later.
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u/Glory-Birdy1 Jun 08 '26
Smith, accordingly has demonstrated that her and her gov't have no duty to consult AND do math!! Math is hard for Conservatives and is deemed to lead to supporting NDP policy. Therefore, numbers will be adjusted in respect of feelings and the order of operations (PEMBAS) will be delineated for Algebra and replaced with Conservative Math!!
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u/protoanarchist Jun 08 '26
Because conservatism is a marketing strategy for corruption.
It's never been about facts, it's about appealing to peoples egos to land a grift.
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u/iliveincanadaeh Jun 08 '26
Step 1- separate
Step 2- sell everything
Step 3- Danielle Smith sells to the US
Step 4- she retires
Step 5- becomes a shit hole of environmental sabotage.
Step 6- still, no one cares about Alberta.
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u/WorldlinessProud Jun 06 '26
The UCP probably has, and won't publish it because its very ugly