Why I support the Forever Canadian petition

  • Posted: October 6, 2025

OpED piece by Hon Ed Stelmach

As a former Premier of Alberta, I’ve visited countless communities across Alberta.  I’ve been welcomed into your homes and spent time with you in your kitchens and halls. In all these conversations, one thing always stands out – Albertans’ fierce pride in our province.

We live in a province with so many strengths. Our tremendous natural resources. The dedication of Alberta farmers and ranchers. Determined entrepreneurs and business owners. People with bold ideas, caring and compassionate families, and communities that support each other.

These strengths have built this great province and will shape Alberta’s future.

We have so many reasons to be optimistic about Alberta’s future and so many reasons to be grateful. Yet there are some people who are promoting our separation from Canada. This talk is not only disturbing – it’s dangerous for our province, scaring away investment, weakening our position with the rest of Canada and with trading partners around the world, and distracting us at a time when we should be doubling down and taking advantage of every opportunity ahead.

I know firsthand that our relationship with the federal government has not always been positive. We have legitimate grievances combined with a general feeling that, in the past, the federal government has not always appreciated Alberta’s critical role in driving Canada’s prosperity. But our complaints about the federal government do not justify threats to separate from Canada. They deliberately ignore the tremendous benefits we enjoy from being part of Canada, a country that is admired around the world and that now, more than ever, is intent on opening new doors to new opportunities around the world. And they insult Albertans by suggesting we can’t be proud Albertans AND proud Canadians.

It’s time to put a stop to these damaging threats of separation. Time for Albertans to stand up and say, I believe Alberta’s future lies in Canada. That’s why I’m proudly supporting the Forever Canadian petition. I urge my fellow Albertans to join me in signing the petition and sending a clear message that Alberta’s best future lies with Canada.

Honourable Ed Stelmach

To find out more about how to sign the Forever Canadian petition, go to forever-canadian.ca.