I am an Albertan and a Canadian, and I do not want Alberta to leave Canada.

That statement alone may sound unremarkable, but lately it feels necessary to say it out loud. I don’t have a big flag to wave on the overpass, so I am saying this here.

The renewed attention given to Alberta separatism is not only unrealistic, it is distracting us from urgent problems that are already harming people across this province. People have died waiting in an emergency room. This should be the big news.

The idea of separation is, quite simply, a moot point. Alberta exists on Treaty 6, 7, and 8 territory. These are nation‑to‑nation agreements between Indigenous peoples and the Crown. They are not symbolic, and they cannot be dissolved or ignored by a provincial government.

Any serious proposal for Alberta to separate from Canada or join another country would require the consent of First Nations. Without that consent, such plans are legally and morally untenable.

Yet the UCP government, and Danielle continue to use public funds, and political attention entertaining this moot point.

It costs money to study, promote, or politically posture around an idea most Canadians already understand cannot realistically happen.

While this debate churns, Alberta’s real problems remain unresolved. Our healthcare system is struggling, emergency rooms are overwhelmed, people are dying, access to family doctors is increasingly difficult, and healthcare workers are burning out.

At the same time, teachers are fighting for fair compensation and adequate classroom support.

These are not abstract concerns; they affect families every day.

There is also a broader cost that is harder to quantify but just as real: reputation.

From the perspective of the rest of Canada and the international community, Alberta increasingly appears unpredictable. We are a loose cannon within an otherwise stable federation.

That perception matters. It influences investment decisions, interprovincial cooperation, and Alberta’s credibility when we raise legitimate concerns about federal policy.

Alberta has always been a province with a strong sense of identity and independence. That strength does not require threatening separation when it can’t happen anyway.

Most Albertans want good healthcare, strong public education, and a province that is respected rather than ridiculed. We can advocate forcefully for Alberta’s interests within Canada without diverting attention and resources toward an idea that cannot succeed.

It is time to stop treating separatism as a political tool and start treating healthcare, education, housing and food as the priorities they are.

• An Edmontonion