Fact check: Premier Danielle Smith announced a referendum for Alberta to join the U.S.

1. Summary of the results

The claim that Premier Danielle Smith announced a referendum for Alberta to join the U.S. is demonstrably false. Multiple sources confirm that Smith has explicitly stated her government "will not be putting a vote on separation from Canada on the referendum ballot" ^[1]. Instead, Smith advocates for "Alberta sovereignty within a united Canada" ^[2] and hopes for a "path forward" for Alberta within Canada ^[3].

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

Several important contextual elements are missing from the original statement:

• While Smith won't initiate a separation referendum herself, she has introduced legislation making it easier to trigger provincial referendums ^[2]
• A citizen-led petition process could potentially put a separation question on a 2026 referendum ballot if enough signatures are gathered ^[1]
• Current polling shows only 25% support for separation, with 75% opposition ^[2]
• The discussion actually centers around trade disputes and tariffs with the United States ^{[4] [5]}, not joining the U.S.

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The original statement appears to be a significant misrepresentation of actual events, potentially stemming from:

• Confusion between Smith's actions regarding U.S. trade disputes ^[4] and her position on Alberta's relationship with Canada
• Misinterpretation of Smith's efforts to protect Canadian interests and Alberta's economic position ^[5]
• Possible deliberate conflation of Smith's desire for increased provincial autonomy with full separation
• The statement benefits those who wish to portray Smith's government as more radical than it actually is, as she explicitly supports remaining within Canada while seeking greater provincial autonomy ^[6]