By Julio C\u00e9sar Rivas <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Toronto, Canada, (EFE).- While separatist sentiment is declining in Quebec, it is gaining traction in Canada\u2019s western provinces, particularly Alberta, just days ahead of the Apr. 28 federal elections.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Polls predict a comfortable victory for Liberal Prime Minister Mark Carney, despite the Conservative Party\u2019s significant lead earlier this year. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In Quebec, Liberal support has risen to 48%, far ahead of the separatist Bloc Qu\u00e9b\u00e9cois which trails by 23 points. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Many Quebec sovereigntists are now backing the Liberals, viewing a Carney government as a bulwark against external threats, notably those posed by United States President Donald Trump.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Meanwhile, separatist sentiment is intensifying in Alberta, the heart of Canada\u2019s powerful oil industry, and to a lesser extent in neighboring Saskatchewan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A recent poll found that three in ten residents of Alberta and Saskatchewan would consider secession if the Liberals win. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Former Reform Party leader Preston Manning fueled the debate by warning in an op-ed in The Globe and Mail that Mark Carney poses a \u201cthreat to national unity.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Manning argued that while separatism is waning in Quebec, it is growing in Alberta, fueled by resentment toward federal Liberal policies. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith has also questioned Canada\u2019s unity in recent statements, demanding greater attention from Ottawa. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Experts like Grace Skogstad, a University of Toronto political science professor specializing in Canadian federalism, noted that Alberta\u2019s discontent is rooted in economic grievances rather than ethnic nationalism, contrasting it with Quebec\u2019s historical separatist movements. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAlberta feels historically disrespected, particularly regarding energy policy,\u201d Skogstad said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Lewis Krashinsky, a political scientist at the University of Toronto, emphasized that despite genuine resentment, a referendum on separation remains unlikely. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cBeyond Manning\u2019s comments, this is a unique moment in Canada where national identity and unity are at their strongest,\u201d he added. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Both scholars agree that the lack of a strong separatist leader in Alberta, unlike Quebec\u2019s past movements, further diminishes the possibility of a serious independence drive. EFE <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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