The “Free Alberta Strategy” is a Project 2025-lite for Alberta, with an end-goal of “sovereignty”
Danielle Smith has endorsed the proposal, most strongly at a 2022 leadership debate hosted by the foundation. The act was mentioned indirectly by Smith as UCP leader when she insisted it wouldn’t be part of her 2023 campaign.
The Authors:
- Rob Anderson – former deputy leader of the Wildrose Party under Danielle Smith. Later Campaign Chair and current Executive Director of the Office of the Premier for Smith. An Alberta separatist.
- Barry Cooper – co-author or “Deconfederation: Canada without Quebec” which promotes Quebec separation – an Alberta separatist.
- Derek From – An Alberta lawyer “specializing in charter and constitutional issues“. An Alberta separatist.
The Points:
- Pass the “Alberta Sovereignty Act” granting the Alberta Legislature “absolute discretion to refuse any provincial enforcement of federal legislation or judicial decisions”
- This act was proposed in late 2022, and passed shortly afterwards.
- Smith announced legislation banning federal workers from gas production sites, lest they collect their own emissions data.
- Establish an “Alberta Provincial Police Force” to replace the RCMP
- Smith announced a provincial police agency “under the sheriffs” to a townhall in August of 2024
- Opt-out of all federal programs including “health, education, resource development, environmental regulation, and property rights. This would include […] “CPP” and Employment Insurance”
- Smith announced intentions to try to opt out of the federal dental plan in mid-2024
- Declare that the Provincial Government will “replace the Federal Government as acting authority to negotiate Alberta’s international trade and market access”
- In 2024 and 2025, Smith insisted that her repeated travel to the US at Mar-a-Lago or right-wing podcast fundraisers was part of her job.
- Sections “Republic of Western Canada” and “A Democratic Independence Process” lay out a process to separate from Canada
- In early 2025 Smith has hinted strongly at an Alberta separation referendum
Bob Ascah provides a FOIP-backed list of dozens of announcements by the UCP in aid of this strategy paper, with analysis on the authors, and future UCP actions.
Danielle Smith finds a lot to agree with when interviewing Free Alberta Strategy co-author Rob Anderson; “I like the way you use the term sovereignty”
The Free Alberta Strategy are currently crowing about Danielle’s success in following the agenda.