On July 1, 2017, during Canada's 150th anniversary celebrations on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau omitted Alberta from a list of provinces and territories in his Canada Day speech.
Addressing a crowd, Trudeau welcomed Canadians from Newfoundland and Labrador, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, British Columbia, Yukon, Northwest Territories, and Nunavut—skipping Alberta entirely, despite it being included in his prepared text, according to CBC.
The oversight quickly sparked outrage on social media, with many Albertans interpreting it as a deliberate slight, fuelling debates about federal disregard for the West.
Trudeau later acknowledged the mistake, returning to the stage to apologize, stating, "I'm a little embarrassed, I got excited somewhere over the Rockies," and adding, "I love you, Alberta," with a blown kiss.
However, the incident amplified longstanding feelings of western alienation, a sentiment rooted in historical federal policies like Pierre Trudeau's 1980 National Energy Program (NEP), which imposed price controls and revenue sharing on oil and gas, perceived as favouring central Canada at Alberta's expense. Critics argued the NEP devastated Alberta's economy, entrenching resentment toward Ottawa.
Over the years, Justin Trudeau's policies, including carbon taxes and regulations seen as hindering Alberta's oil and gas sector, have been cited as exacerbating this divide.
Such attitudes have contributed to growing support for Alberta's separation movement. As of February 2026, groups like Stay Free Alberta and the Alberta Prosperity Project are actively collecting signatures for a petition requiring 177,732 verified names by May to trigger a provincial referendum on independence.
Recent polling indicates support for separation hovers around 40% among Albertans. Premier Danielle Smith has stated she would hold a referendum if the petition succeeds, amid reports of separatist leaders seeking U.S. backing.
