By David Boles, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, St. Albert Gazette
July 9, 2026
Anthony Koch’s Canada includes Alberta. And a prosperous one at that.
But that doesn’t mean he doesn’t have questions about what’s happening here right now.
“From my perspective, there’s a question. Even for those of us that like Alberta, love Alberta, feel bad for Alberta and want to see Alberta thrive and succeed because we think it’s essential for Canada to thrive and succeed,” said Koch. “There’s a bit of question of ‘would this even be a thing if Pierre Poilievre won the last election?'”
The Montreal born Koch, who runs a public affairs firm, is one of many Canadians keeping an eye on what’s happening in Alberta, with the residents of Wild Rose Country set to vote on a non-binding referendum question on the province’s future in Confederation.
It’s a feeling expressed by several in the independence crowd, who feel that the Canadian government hasn’t done nearly enough to show support for Alberta’s economy, which is primarily fuelled by the energy sector.
“Alberta, in my opinion, legitimately complains about some of the structural inequities that exist within the federation,” said Koch.
It’s a curious time in Canada, with Alberta’s separation movement gaining traction at the same time the sovereignist PartiQuébécois seems poised to win the upcoming provincial election in Quebec.
Albertans have always held a certain level of animus towards the province of Quebec, something many who call Alberta home trace back to 1982 when the National Energy Program was introduced under the former Pierre Trudeau Liberal government.
In 2019, the re-election of Justin Trudeau’s Liberal government to a minority Parliament sparked the Wexit movement, an effort to separate Western Canada.
However, from what Koch has seen, that same level of deep-seeded anger and frustration just isn’t there in the country’s two biggest provinces.
“I spend most of time in central Canada, between the Golden Triangle of Ottawa, Montreal, and Toronto. You don’t really hear people speaking poorly about Albertans in day-to-day life,” said Koch. “I think it’s one of these situations that Albertans think and talk about them a lot more than we actually do. And I’m of the position that we should think about them a lot more, in a positive sense.”
The view from Ontario
In the Ontario capital, the feeling is moderately different for Flavio Volpe.
The Toronto-based Volpe is the president of the Automotive Parts Manufacturers’ Association, which serves the auto sector, a driving force in the economy of the Greater Toronto Area and Ontario. He knows the importance of the auto and energy sector, and how the two go hand-in-hand beyond the obvious.
The energy sector and critical minerals industry are vital to the auto sector, as they help create lighter cars and the fuel-efficient vehicles rolling off the line today.
“On the ground, there’s a real sense of respect for the hustle that’s required out west being the same that’s required in Central and Eastern Canada,” said Volpe.
The issue of Canadian unity, for community and industry, is important to Volpe. He was a young man who participated in the rally in downtown Montreal in 1995 during the heated Quebec referendum campaign.
From that referendum campaign, which saw Quebec voters narrowly support remaining in Canada, he says there are lessons we can learn.
“I went coast-to-coast as a young person in university, fresh out of school,” recalled Volpe. “You start to understand that this country’s greatness is that it’s large and diverse. We’re all committed to the Canada Project.”
The way forward
With separation movements in Alberta and Quebec being prominent, there has been thoughts from people throughout Alberta and Canada if it’s possible for a return to the united country they once knew.
Koch is an avowed federalist. He believes a better Canada is always possible.
But it will take a while to get there.
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“I just think it’s going to require a monumental effort. I think it’s a 20 year project,” said Koch. “I think the idea that Canada is a good, well-run country with institutions that work well and that leaving it you’d be sacrificing that, I think a lot of people are saying ‘yeah, I’m not so sure that that’s what Canada is anymore.'”
