EDMONTON — Alberta’s premier says she welcomes diverse opinions in her caucus after a legislature member of her United Conservative Party opined a referendum on separation is good for the province.

Danielle Smith reiterated on her provincewide radio show Saturday her government supports a sovereign Alberta within a united Canada despite the views Red Deer-South MLA Jason Stephan expressed a day before in an op-ed published on an online conservative media outlet’s website.

Smith said she has taken steps to obtain that sovereignty, such as signing the Alberta-Canada energy memorandum of understanding with Prime Minister Mark Carney.

Stephan, who is also the premier’s parliamentary secretary for constitutional affairs, wrote in the op-ed published Friday that he invites all who love freedom and prosperity to sign a petition pushing for a referendum on separation.

He says Ottawa is trying to gaslight Albertans into thinking a referendum will cause economic uncertainty but a referendum is about holding Ottawa accountable for its “stupid laws.”

The Alberta Chambers of Commerce said earlier this month talk of the province potentially quitting Confederation is bad for business,

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 29, 2026.

Fakiha Baig, The Canadian Press