The following discussion is only tangentially related to the topic of this thread, but after careful consideration I decided to post it.
Most Canadians and, I suspect, most Albertans don't realize that there is a very stong separatist movement in rural Alberta. Earlier this year, there was a significant development which ties Alberta separatism in with the US Republican Party.
In February of 2025, one of Alberta's separatist parties (the Buffalo Party of Alberta) renamed themselves to the Republican Party of Alberta. This party has two main planks in their election platform:
(1) if they form the government, they will hold a binding referendum on Alberta separating from Canada, and
(2) if the first referendum passes, they will hold a second non-binding referendum on Alberta becoming the 51st US state.
On June 23, 2025, by-elections were held in three Alberta ridings, two in Edmonton and a third in a riding called Olds-Didsbury-Threehills (ODT). This third riding has the distinction of being the only Alberta riding which has elected an Alberta separatist to the Alberta legislature (way back in 1979).
The Republican Party of Alberta ran candidates in all three June by-elections. Their candidates did poorly in Edmonton, getting just 3.4% and 0.7% of the vote. The results in the ODT riding were much more interesting:
61% UCP (i.e., Conservative)
20% NDP
18% Republican Alberta of Alberta
1% WLC (another Alberta separatist party)
So, the Republicans almost managed to surpass the NDP in support.
Around the time That Man started his 2nd US Presidential term back in January, I know that roughly 20% of the voters in Alberta and Saskatchewan supported That Man. I haven't seen any recent polls, but it appears that That Man's threats against Canada have resulted in a decrease in his support in Alberta. Based on the June by-election results, we can conclude that, despite the Alberta Republican Party having stong rural support, there is little danger of the Alberta Republicans forming the next Alberta government. I am still a bit concerned, however, that the party managed to get 18% of the vote in the ODT riding.
Based on the beliefs of my Saskatchewan relatives who support That Man, it appears that his Canadian followers are also against such things as vaccinations, gun control, and fluoridated water. I'm starting to wonder if it is the fluoride in Edmonton water that is keeping Edmontonians sane...