Why it’s important to be here

To carve a nation out of an existing country takes huge effort and the involvement of many people—almost the whole nation. Alberta, however, is not a nation; it is a province where one dominant kind of politics tends to thrive. The push, debate, and control of separation are therefore driven mainly by that politics, which makes the movement feel less broad and inclusive in our view.

This is not unusual. Many nations were born from the dominant politics of their time. But history also shows what can happen to minorities in such nation-building moments, especially when there is early reluctance to commit to international human-rights standards and protections—minorities are often sidelined, pressured to assimilate, or pushed to the margins.

It may be early for the movement to talk about minority rights since a constitution has not been drafted. But that is exactly why timing matters. From our interactions with supporters, much of the frustration centres on Ottawa—taxes, oil and gas, equalization, and federal decision-making. Yet alongside these concerns, there is a sense that socio-cultural ideas about building an “exclusive nation” may also be entering the conversation.If those elements shape a new Alberta, minorities could face anything from sidelining to real marginalization. That is why it is important that we are part of the conversation from the beginning.

Whether Alberta separates or not is not the main point for many of us. The point is making sure we are considered in whatever future is being discussed. The current mood in the separation movement is, “Sit down—what is important now is that we separate.” But what is the guarantee that, after Alberta separates, the official line won’t be: “Sorry, we are busy setting up the country right now. It’s okay if you suffer for some time—after all, if we could endure this under Canada, you can endure it too”?