Solberg: Why Alberta’s best future is within Canada

When I first went to Ottawa as a member of Parliament, I didn’t go because I believed the system was working. Quite the opposite.

Like many Albertans, I was frustrated. Western Canada was too often ignored, our industries were misunderstood and decisions affecting our livelihoods were being made by people who had little understanding of how this country works outside Central Canada.

The sense of alienation in Alberta was real then and, in many ways, it remains real today.

But I also believed something else — Canada was worth fighting for.

I believed Alberta’s answer was not to walk away from Confederation, but to demand a better deal within it. That was the mission of the Reform movement and later the Conservative movement that many of us helped build. We went to Ottawa to change Canada — and in many ways, we did.

We fought for democratic reform, lower taxes, balanced budgets, Senate reform and a greater voice for Western Canada. We challenged the old Laurentian consensus that treated Alberta primarily as a revenue source rather than a partner.

The progress was not always immediate and it was never easy. But change happened.

Canada became more competitive. Taxes were lowered. Federal finances were repaired. Western Canadians gained influence at the cabinet table and within national politics.

And Alberta’s energy sector became the economic engine of Canada, creating jobs and opportunities from coast to coast.

None of this happened because Alberta gave up on Canada. It happened because Albertans engaged with Canada and fought to improve it. That history matters now more than ever.

Across the province, frustration is growing. Many Albertans feel disrespected by federal policies that hurt jobs and investment. Those frustrations are real and understandable. But anger alone is not a governing vision. Grievance is not an economic strategy.

And separation would not solve the fundamental challenges Alberta faces. In fact, it would create enormous uncertainty at precisely the moment we should be focused on growth and opportunity.

The world is changing rapidly, and Alberta is uniquely positioned to succeed. From energy and agriculture to technology and innovation, our province has the resources, talent and entrepreneurial spirit to drive growth, strengthen Canada’s economy and help meet rising global demand for reliable energy and food security.

The question is not whether Alberta has a future. The question is whether we approach that future with confidence or with resentment.

I choose confidence. I choose to believe Alberta can continue shaping Canada rather than abandoning it. That this country is still capable of reform and renewal, just as it was when many of us went to Ottawa decades ago.

Those promoting separatist ideas are pushing Alberta down a dangerous path that risks dividing our province, weakening our economy and undermining the freedoms and democratic traditions generations of Albertans helped build.

That’s not a path to strength or stability. It’s a path to economic uncertainty, political division and cultural fracture. Instead of spending the next generation fighting each other, we should put that energy into building a stronger Alberta within a better Canada.

Recently, I launched Vote to Stay — a non-partisan organization intent on mobilizing Albertans who believe our province’s future is stronger within Canada and on engaging respectfully with those who disagree.

If you believe Alberta should stay in Canada and continue leading the country in energy, innovation and opportunity, I encourage you to visit VotetoStay.ca and pledge your vote.

The future of Alberta should be decided by hope and opportunity, not anger and grievance.

Monte Solberg is the founder of Vote to Stay, the CEO of New West Public Affairs and a partner at SHIFT Media Strategies, and a former federal cabinet minister.