8 Alberta Myths — Debunked

Myth #1: “Ottawa is stealing Alberta’s wealth and giving it to Quebec!” TALKING POINT We send billions to Ottawa. They turn around and hand it to Quebec. Alberta always pays more than it gets back. We carry the load — and get none of the credit. We're done being taken for granted. QUESTION So who's signing that cheque to Quebec? BREAKDOWN Equalization is not a transfer from Alberta to other provinces—it’s a federal redistribution program funded by personal and corporate income taxes. Alberta doesn’t send money to other provinces; it just doesn’t receive extra support because its economy is stronger. Meanwhile, Alberta receives billions every year from Ottawa through the Canada Health Transfer, EI, infrastructure funding, and emergency disaster aid. Equalization is not theft—it’s a social safety net we may one day need. Sources: Feehan (U of A), School of Public Policy; June 2025 Government of Canada
Myth #1:
No, Alberta doesn’t send cheques to Quebec. Equalization is about need, not geography. Alberta gets billions from Ottawa every year — and might need equalization itself someday. 👉 Download this image (JPG)
Myth #2: “We'll vote to leave Canada in 2027 and be free!” TALKING POINT Alberta has the right to hold a referendum. A majority vote gives us the mandate to act. That's how we assert self-determination. No one in Ottawa or the courts can deny it. It’s time for Alberta to reclaim its freedom. QUESTION Where does the Clarity Act say Alberta can leave unilaterally? BREAKDOWN The Clarity Act (2000) outlines the conditions under which a province may begin the process of separation. A successful referendum must have a clear question and result in a clear majority. But that alone is not enough. The federal government is constitutionally obligated to negotiate, and Indigenous peoples hold rights that must be respected. Separation requires amending the Constitution — which means buy-in from the rest of Canada. It’s not simple or fast. Sources: Clarity Act; Wesley (2022); Robertson Thesis (2023) June 2025
Myth #2:
A referendum is not a magic exit button. Separation takes negotiation, constitutional change, and respect for Indigenous rights. The Clarity Act makes that clear. 👉 Download this image (JPG)
Myth #3: “Ottawa tried to force vaccines and erase parental rights!” TALKING POINT They’re pushing woke ideology into Alberta classrooms. Vaccine mandates cost Albertans their jobs and choices. Ottawa keeps crossing the line — undermining parental authority and Alberta's freedoms. QUESTION Who actually issued Alberta's COVID mandates—Ottawa or Alberta? BREAKDOWN During the pandemic, Alberta's public health decisions were made by the provincial government. Claims of federal coercion don’t hold up to scrutiny. “Medical freedom” is often code for anti-vax rhetoric, and “parental rights” campaigns are being used to roll back sex education, gender inclusion, and curriculum diversity—often without evidence of harm, particularly for LGBTQ+ students. These terms are politicized to erode public trust in experts and to target marginalized groups under the banner of freedom. Sources: Mah (2022); Canadian Anti-Hate Network (2023) June 2025
Myth #3:
Ottawa didn’t mandate vaccines or rewrite school policy. Those were Alberta’s decisions. Don’t let scapegoating distract from who actually made the rules. 👉 Download this image (JPG)
Myth #4: “Real freedom means low taxes, no regulations, and gun rights!” TALKING POINT Freedom means government stays out of people's lives — low taxes, deregulation, and no red tape getting in the way. I should have the right to own firearms and make my own choices without interference. It’s about freedom. QUESTION How does cutting regulations and taxes give us better schools, roads, or hospitals? BREAKDOWN Flat taxes reduce government ability to fund public goods like healthcare, education, and infrastructure. They mostly benefit the wealthy, while others lose vital support. Deregulation downplays risks to public safety and the environment by weakening protections in sectors like energy, agriculture, and health. Crown land is federally held and subject to legal obligations with Indigenous Peoples. Alberta can't simply claim it — treaty law and the Constitution prevent that. Sources: School of Public Policy; Mitchell-MacLean (2025); Mah (2022) June 2025
Myth #4:
Freedom means more than low taxes. It means strong public services, safety protections, and respecting treaties — not deregulation at any cost. 👉 Download this image (JPG)
Myth #5:“Trudeau crashed Alberta’s economy!” TALKING POINT Federal interference and anti-energy policies scared away investment and killed the oilpatch. Trudeau delayed pipelines and imposed carbon taxes—he tanked Alberta's economy. The Liberals made Alberta uninvestable. QUESTION If Ottawa scared away business, why didn’t they leave during the Harper years? BREAKDOWN The 2014-2015 crash came from global oil oversupply—not federal policy. Alberta's real pain shows in falling wages, a frozen minimum wage, and rising costs for power, insurance, and tuition—all under provincial control. Oil profits hit $192 billion over four years: four times the 2010s. Jobs and wages were cut—the boom didn't reach most Albertans. Local policy failures—not Ottawa—drove down wages and affordability. Sources: Stanford “Let’s Drop the Phoney Alberta vs. Canada Nonsense,” June 2025; Toronto Star (2025); UCalgary SPP (2015); Parkland Institute (2023)
Myth #5:
Trudeau wasn’t even in office when oil prices crashed. The real affordability crisis was made in Alberta — and it’s still hurting workers and families today.   👉 Download this image (JPG)
Myth 6: “We're just like Quebec—we should get our own deal!” TALKING POINT Alberta deserves the same powers Quebec has—we're a distinct region too. If they can stand up to Ottawa, so can we. It's time to fight for our freedom and take control of our future—just like Quebec did. QUESTION What makes Alberta as constitutionally distinct as Quebec? BREAKDOWN Quebec's distinct status is constitutional — grounded in language, law, and culture. Alberta has never had those legal foundations. Claims that Alberta should get “the same deal” ignore the facts. Quebec's powers reflect negotiated recognition over decades. Alberta’s demands are political, not constitutional. Slogans about “equal treatment” distort what makes Quebec unique — and try to justify special status Alberta was never promised. Sources: Wesley (2022); Government of Canada; Clarity Act (2000) June 2025
Myth #6:
Alberta and Quebec are not the same. Quebec’s powers come from its language, legal system, and culture. Alberta’s demands are political, not constitutional. 👉 Download this image (JPG)
Myth #7 :“The Alberta separatist movement is a true grassroots rebellion!” TALKING POINT Alberta is ready for real self-determination. It's time we chart our own future, build our own institutions, and reclaim our wealth, rights, and governance. We need Real Action—not more strongly worded letters. QUESTION If this is a people-powered uprising—where are the votes? BREAKDOWN They invoke rebellion and talk of “real Albertans rising up,” but this isn’t grassroots — it’s political recycling dressed as populism that lacks broad support. A tight circle of insiders has repackaged separatist rhetoric for decades, stoking division and resentment. Most Albertans reject secession—separatist parties drew less than 1% of the vote in 2023. These groups are small but loud—spreading misinformation, chasing headlines, and harming Alberta's image with symbolic campaigns that lack real support. Sources: Election Alberta (2023); Mitchell-MacLean (2025); Wesley (2023); Mah (2024); Robertson (2023)
Myth #7:
If this movement is so popular, where are the votes? Separatist parties drew less than 1% in 2023. This isn’t grassroots — it’s grievance marketing. 👉 Download this image (JPG)
Myth 8: “If Alberta left Canada, we’d be richer, freer, and finally in charge!” TALKING POINT Ottawa bleeds Alberta dry. Independence lets us keep our money, cut red tape, and take back full control of taxes, pensions, and borders. True prosperity and freedom begin the moment we leave Canada. QUESTION What part of becoming landlocked, friendless, and broke sounds like ‘freedom’? BREAKDOWN The promise of instant wealth and sovereignty hides the hard reality of building a nation. Alberta would need new systems for trade, currency, and diplomacy — all while landlocked and unrecognized. Key sectors like oil and agriculture depend on stable trade with Canada and the U.S. Independence means instability, lost federal support, and long-term costs. Leaving Canada is politically, economically, and socially disruptive. Sources: Canada West Foundation (2022); Bank of Canada modelling; Clarity Act briefs; UCalgary SPP; Robertson (2023); Mah (2024) June 2025
Myth #8:
Independence isn’t a shortcut to prosperity. It’s a leap into legal, economic, and logistical chaos — especially for a landlocked province like Alberta. 👉 Download this image (JPG)