Alberta Premier Danielle Smith has issued a clear directive to members of the United Conservative Party: back Canada or back out.
Speaking to media in Calgary on Wednesday, Smith reinforced her earlier video message to UCP members, stating that the party must chart a decidedly pro-Canada course moving forward. The stance comes in the wake of Monday's failed referendum, in which Albertans voted against holding a second, binding referendum on separation.
Party Loyalty on Trial
"For those few who cannot reconcile this fact and remain intent on dividing and turn our party into a vehicle for the independence movement, I would respectfully invite them to join a different party," Smith said in her video address, which she reinforced at Wednesday's press conference.
The premier acknowledged there are hurt feelings among those who supported separation, but framed the moment as one requiring recalibration rather than resignation.
"You get to have your say, but you don't always get to have your way," Smith told reporters.
Smith emphasized that individual party members are free to hold whatever personal beliefs they choose, but candidates seeking to run under the UCP banner must commit to the party's official position: "A strong Alberta within a united Canada."
Support From Across the Aisle
Former Premier Jason Kenney, a vocal opponent of separatism, endorsed Smith's decision as necessary and appropriate for maintaining party coherence.
"In a democracy, we need groups and parties that represent something coherent, and the people within those parties broadly to support those principles," Kenney told CBC News. "When push comes to shove, leaders and parties need to protect themselves from those kinds of extremism."
Kenney noted that while a fractured UCP could pose challenges heading into the 2027 general election, he doesn't believe a splinter separatist party would ultimately harm Conservative prospects. Instead, he suggested such a development could actually benefit the UCP by offering a clearer alternative for voters seeking centre-right governance.
Separatists Push Back
Not everyone is convinced Smith's ultimatum will have its intended effect. Mitch Sylvestre, a prominent separatist and CEO of the Alberta Prosperity Project—who also serves as president of the UCP's Bonnyville-Cold Lake-St. Paul constituency association—has suggested the premier's strategy could backfire.
The confrontation represents a defining moment for the UCP as it looks ahead to the next provincial election, forcing members and leadership alike to declare where they stand on Alberta's place within Confederation.
This article is based on reporting from CBC Calgary. Original story by Chad Twair, Trevor Howlett, and Kerry Powell. Read the full CBC Calgary report.