Celebrities boosting Alberta separation as popularity grows

The popularity of Alberta separation is on the rise, according to a new survey from Pollara, which shows 25 to 27 per cent support for leaving Canada.

It comes as comedian Rob Schneider and the world’s richest man throw their support behind the independence movement.

“I don’t think he’s going to put any money into it,” said David Parker with Take Back Alberta. “I don’t think he really cares about Alberta. I think he’s pretty focused on midterms.”

Still, Elon Musk agreed that Alberta needs to leave Canada.

The U.S.-based billionaire responded to Parker, a political organizer and pro-independence Albertan, on Wednesday night on X.

Yeah

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) April 9, 2026

“I happen to know through my connections that there’s lots of interest in Alberta independence in the White House and in the MAGA broader network,” Parker told CityNews. “Mostly because they’re a freedom-minded kind of people and they kind of hate Canada… like, they think Canada is a joke.”

But First Nations are vowing to fight the separation, arguing it violates their treaty rights.

Several chiefs in court this week are seeking an injunction on a petition for a referendum vote.

“Even the talk of referendum has frozen investment, it’s slowed down our economy, and most importantly, it has pitted neighbour against neighbour,” said Naheed Nenshi, Alberta’s NDP leader.

The Alberta NDP launched a new pro-Canada campaign Thursday, including a website, door-knocking, and upcoming days of action.

As for the Musk post, Nenshi thinks that will help his campaign.

He believes most Albertans do not welcome outside influence.

“We know that the separatist leaders have already met with the U.S. government; we know they asked Trump for half a trillion dollars to help fund the independence movement,” Nenshi said. “So this is real foreign interference, and the premier either doesn’t care, or she loves the attention she’s getting from Trump.”

“Either way, that is dangerous for this country.”

The premier again said Thursday that she supports an independence vote but will promote pro-Canada votes.

The Pollara survey suggests that 55 per cent of UCP voters disagree with her.  

“Evidently, I haven’t convinced everyone yet,” she said. “I hope that if we do end up having this question debated in October,t I’ll be able to do some more convincing, because I think Canada is worth fighting for.”

As for the numbers, Pollara’s Dan Arnold linked the rise in separation’s popularity to the idea’s legitimization by the premier and the news media.

Still, he believes the numbers are very fluid.

“There’s another 15 per cent of Albertans who say, ‘Yes, I would not vote to separate. ” But I would think about putting a protest vote to send a message to Ottawa,” he said. “So that could boost support even higher.

“We also find that 56 per cent of Alberta separatists say they’re proud to be Canadian, which is maybe the biggest surprise of the whole survey.”

It’s that lingering patriotism that Arnold says pro-Canada politicians need to tap into to win a referendum, much like the new NDP campaign.

Forever Canadian, the group that already submitted a petition to stop separation, is also hitting the road in their RV this spring to drum up support.