Is Your Canadian Neighbour a Separatist?(And Why You Probably Don’t Need to Be Afraid)

Take a breath.

Your neighbour might vote UCP.

Your neighbour might talk about Alberta separation.

Your neighbour might share posts that make your stomach drop.

And still, there is nothing to fear.

Most people are not extremists. They are people operating with partial information, emotional messaging, and one-sided stories...just like any group can fall into, on any side of the political spectrum.

Fear doesn’t come from disagreement. Fear comes from information silos.

One-Sided Stories Create Imaginary Enemies

Many separatist-leaning narratives are built on a few core beliefs:

• That Alberta is being economically exploited by the rest of Canada

• That federal policies intentionally harm Western livelihoods

• That equalization payments are unfair or “theft”

• That Ottawa does not listen to Western voices

• That separation would automatically mean more prosperity and control

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These ideas don’t come from nowhere. They are reinforced by:

• Partisan media ecosystems

• Social media algorithms

• Opinion-heavy websites and influencers

• Repetition without challenge

  
  

When someone only sees those sources, their worldview narrows. Fear grows. Resentment hardens. And suddenly neighbours feel like threats instead of people.

That’s not evil. That’s human psychology...we're wired that way....but we can rewire too!

Transparency Means Showing All the Information

Critical thinking is not saying “you’re wrong. ”Critical thinking is saying: “Here is the full picture, now decide.”

If someone is consuming separatist or UCP-aligned content, encourage them (and yourself) to also explore:

Economic & Policy Context

• Independent breakdowns of equalization payments

• Federal vs provincial jurisdiction explanations

• Long-term economic diversification data

• Oil & gas market realities beyond political framing

Historical Context

• Why equalization exists in the first place

• How Alberta has both contributed to and benefited from Confederation

• Past separatist movements in Canada and why they failed

Legal & Practical Reality

• What separation would actually require (constitutionally and economically)

• Trade, currency, borders, pensions, Indigenous treaties

• International recognition and debt responsibility

Indigenous & Treaty Obligations

• The fact that provinces cannot “separate” land covered by treaties

• That Indigenous nations are not automatically part of provincial political decisions

• That Turtle Island realities don’t disappear with political slogans

None of this requires agreement. It requires honesty.

Make the Call for Yourself, With the Full Picture

Education isn’t about telling people what to think. It’s about giving people enough information to think well.

If you’ve only seen one side, seek the other. If your neighbour has only seen one side, offer the other without ridicule.

Shaming people doesn’t change minds. Transparency does.

This is how we stop polarization. This is how we stop fear-based politics. This is how we keep Canada functional.

Canadians Talk. We Don’t Tear Each Other Apart

We are not Americans-lite. We are not bullies. We are not afraid of disagreement.

We are Canadians. We discuss. We debate. We collaborate. We come to the table in good faith.

You can oppose separatism and understand why someone feels drawn to it. You can love Canada and critique federal policy. You can acknowledge settler colonial history and believe in a shared future.

Those are not contradictions. That’s maturity.

Final Thought

Your neighbour is not your enemy. Ignorance is not a moral failurel it’s a solvable problem. And fear collapses the moment sunlight hits it.

So read widely. Check sources. Compare narratives. Ask better questions.

Then make the call for yourself, with the full, transparent view.

That’s education. That’s freedom. That’s how we keep Canada Canada + Turtle Island