If Canada is divisible, Alberta is also divisible. Alberta-Canada relationships could be tense as new borders were established in a separation scenario.

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A small number of Alberta separatists have been advocating that Alberta should fully assert its independence and secede from Canada.

Some elected Albertan politicians flirt with this idea when they publicly talk about withdrawing from national programs or facilitating secession votes. In Canada, any province can initiate secession through a provincial referendum where a majority vote approves seceding through a clear question.

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The next steps after a secession decision are not as clear. A thought experiment about what secession would  likely mean for future Alberta-Canada relationships can be illuminating.

Establishing new international borders would be a top priority for both a newly independent Alberta and Canada. The Alberta government would likely want, at minimum, to maintain its current borders.

The federal government would likely take the view that any new Canadian borders should also include any regions in Alberta where a majority of residents wanted to remain part of Canada. If Canada is........

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