The Edmonton stage was anticipated to be a secure setting for Danielle Smith to bask in partisan approval. However, it turned out to be the site of a political ambush.
Smith, clad in a pristine white suit, occupied the stage with her cabinet at the United Conservative Party’s 2025 annual general meeting to field questions from party loyalists. Amidst the crowd, one individual, donned in a blue blazer and baseball cap, approached the microphone not to inquire but to convey a message.
Jeff Rath, a constitutional lawyer, UCP member, and a prominent figure in the Alberta independence movement, vocalized a query to the room about supporting a free and independent Alberta. This proclamation was met with a standing ovation, while Smith, undeterred, reiterated her stance on an independent Alberta within a unified Canada.
Unlike previous AGMs where Smith’s statements were met with cheers, this time she was met with boos. Despite her efforts to highlight her achievements in addressing Alberta’s issues with Prime Minister Mark Carney, she was jeered by the audience.
The dissent towards a premier at an AGM was unprecedented, indicating a shift within the UCP towards a movement advocating for Canada’s breakup. Former Alberta premier Jason Kenney attributed this shift to a cohort activated during the COVID-19 pandemic, propelling the province towards separatism.
An investigation by the fifth estate revealed Smith’s reliance on this movement during her ascent to premiership. Despite polling indicating that independence was not aligned with the majority of Albertans, Smith proceeded to call for a separation referendum on October 19.
The province and the UCP found themselves divided, with some of the separatists previously welcomed by Smith now aiming to oust her from office. Through an analysis of interviews, government records, and separatist archives, the fifth estate identified four pivotal steps taken by the independence movement to push for a referendum that could alter the nation’s destiny.
The first step involved a strategic takeover within the UCP, orchestrated by individuals like Dennis Modry, Jeff Rath, and Mitch Sylvestre, aiming to transform the party into one with a focus on independence. This internal reshaping was crucial for the subsequent phases leading towards a referendum on Alberta’s status within Canada.
