We’ve all been there. That moment in a relationship when you realize something fundamental is broken. You’re showing up, doing the work, trying to make it better—but your partner just isn’t. They’re distracted, minimizing your concerns, and treating your efforts as expected, not appreciated.
You start to wonder if there’s anything real left to hold onto, any sign they still care, still see your worth. And with that doubt creeping in, the tough questions follow: Is this still worth fighting for? Can they meet you halfway? Or is it finally time to let go?
That’s exactly where Alberta finds itself today in its long, complicated relationship with Ottawa.
It’s not a dramatic breakup scenario—no betrayal, no name-calling, no clear villain. It’s something more familiar and frustrating: a growing realization that we’re in a one-sided relationship. Alberta has been leaning in—giving more than its fair share, showing up with resources, energy, and solutions—while Ottawa leans out, distracted by other interests, dismissive of Alberta’s concerns, and often reluctant to even acknowledge that we’ve been pulling more than our weight.
This is the turning point. Do we double down and hope for change? Or do we draw the line and demand better?
Premier Danielle Smith has made it clear that Alberta is not storming out the door. Not yet. Instead, she’s calling for something that many people in struggling relationships turn to: couples counselling. A chance to sit across the table, lay out the issues, and find out if the other side is willing to invest in the relationship.
This isn’t like a boyfriend being caught off guard by a “we need to talk” moment. Ottawa might act surprised, but Alberta’s been dropping hints for years. This has been a long time coming.
Alberta has been very clear about what needs to change. The premier has outlined nine specific conditions that would make the relationship more balanced and respectful—more worth saving. These aren’t wild or unreasonable demands. Frankly, if your friend told you these were the things she was asking of her partner, you wouldn’t tell her she was being high-maintenance. You’d say she was finally standing up for herself.
At a fundamental level, Alberta’s position can be understood in terms of representativeness and responsiveness. The province understandably sees itself as underrepresented in Ottawa, both in terms of its relative number of seats in parliament and around the cabinet table.
Presently, the province is slightly underrepresented in the House of Commons according to “rep by pop.” And that’s likely to get worse over time—particularly since Quebec’s “safeguards” are bound to cause it to become overrepresented in the coming years. There’s a need to think more about how to make the federal parliament more representative as Alberta’s population continues to grow due to people flocking here in search of opportunity.
Then there’s responsiveness. It’s fair to say that Albertans believe that federal policy has been at best indifferent to the province’s needs and at worst injurious for the better part of the past decade. Can you imagine if Ottawa enacted policies like the oil and gas emissions cap that targeted Quebec’s aerospace sector or Ontario’s auto sector? Yet Alberta’s oil and gas sector dwarfs them in terms of output, employment, and exports.
Federal policy must recognize the outsized contribution that Alberta’s economy makes to Canada. It should stop trying to harm it and start aiming to support it.
This also goes for federal intrusions into Alberta’s exclusive jurisdiction. The province has fought and won successive legal battles against Ottawa’s tendency to ignore the Constitution. The federal government should stop it. The goal should be to return to something more closely resembling a constitutional order of “watertight compartments.”
This, by the way, isn’t new ground for Alberta. We’ve tried before. Remember the last Fair Deal Panel? That wasn’t a stunt. It was a serious effort to figure out how Alberta could protect its interests within Confederation. Now, another panel is being discussed, not because Alberta is walking away, but because we still want this relationship to work—if, and only if, it can become more equal, which is to say, more representative and responsive.
And let’s be honest, this isn’t just about Smith, or even just about the United Conservative Party government. This is a sentiment that spans party lines and generations. Albertans are proud, resourceful, and deeply committed to Canada. But they are also tired of being treated like the ATM of the federation. Tired of having their industries vilified, their transfer payments ignored, their autonomy second-guessed.
We’re not asking for special treatment. We’re asking for equal treatment. Respect. Recognition. The basics of any healthy relationship.
Since the federal election, Premier Smith has now addressed the province—and Canada—directly. Her message was clear: Alberta is still here, still trying, still hoping Ottawa will finally hear us, finally show up, finally meet us in the middle.
But if not—if Ottawa isn’t willing to come to the table, if they keep treating us like the partner they assume will always stay no matter what—then maybe it’s time to say enough. Maybe it’s time to stop waiting for things to get better and start thinking about how to stand on our own terms.
This isn’t a tantrum. It’s a boundary. Alberta has been patient, but the line has been crossed.
We’re not begging to be heard anymore.
We love you, Canada—but it’s your move, Ottawa.
