Mark Carney has a national unity problem. A Liberal voice in Calgary might help [Video]

Viewed from a certain angle, it could be read as good news that only 30 per cent of Albertans believe their province would be better off on its own, a share that has grown only slightly over the last five years. In a hypothetical referendum, just 28 per cent said they would vote to secede. 

But among those who believe Alberta would be better off outside of Canada, feelings have seemingly hardened. And a referendum is no longer purely hypothetical.

“What I always tell [people outside Alberta] is like, hey, Alberta has been a place of western alienation for a long time, and that’s been worthy of resolving for a long time. What you’re seeing right now is it getting louder and being more legitimized than it’s ever been,” says Corey Hogan, the newly elected Liberal MP for Calgary Confederation.

“I’ve worked in the public opinion space a long time. And ultimately, public opinion does …