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United Conservatives express patriotism after MLA supports separatist petition

  • The Canadian Press

  • Canadian Press

  • March 30, 2026

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith speaks during the announcement of the 2028 World Cup of Hockey being hosted in Alberta, in Edmonton on Monday, March 16, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson

EDMONTON -- Alberta Premier Danielle Smith and members of her United Conservative government expressed their unwavering love for Canada today as the Opposition NDP accused them of harbouring a separatist.

Municipal Affairs Minister Dan Williams pointed to the singing of the national anthem at the start of legislature sitting as a sign of their staunch patriotism.

And Smith reiterated her long-standing support for what she calls a sovereign Alberta within a United Canada.

The debate came just days after UCP backbencher Jason Stephan publicly pushed for Albertans to sign a petition calling for a referendum on separatism.

Stephan, who is also the premier's parliamentary secretary for constitutional affairs, declined to stop to answer questions from reporters on his way into the house.

NDP deputy leader Rakhi Pancholi says Stephan's statements prove Smith's caucus harbours separatists and she reiterated a call for Stephan to be removed from the UCP benches.

This report by was first published March 30, 2026.