The flags of Canada and Alberta fly at the Syncrude Giants of Mining exhibit north of Fort McMurray on May 17, 2025. Photo by Vincent McDermott /Postmedia file

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From now until the Oct. 19 referendum in Alberta, the Edmonton Journal and Calgary Herald are publishing your thoughts about the upcoming vote and issues related to separation. Here are some of the latest emails we’ve received.

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To separate or not to separate, that seems to be the question.

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But what is underneath all the differing opinions, what does everyone want?

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I know what I want. A less polarized Alberta, where you can have opinions and can express them without everyone attacking each other like hungry piranhas.

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I’m a firm believer that Albertans should not divorce the rest of Canada. Divorces are messy, costly, complicated, and one party always pays out more than the other. In my opinion, those Albertans who would choose to stay in a separate Alberta, will pay, and dearly.

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In reality, there is no town, city, country or continent that is a separate entity. Play one game of Catan and think about one place in the world that has all the resources it requires for its citizens to survive. I definitely can’t think of one.

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We rely on support from all over the world. When it comes down to basic facts, everyone in Alberta wants the same, a better life. We want safety in our homes and communities, we want affordable food, housing and schools. We need accessible healthcare and ambulance services, firefighters and police officers. Those are the basics of survival in our society.

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What is the best way for achieving all of this? The everyday reality of separation does not seem to support this important quest. The transition period that we are all experiencing, because of a huge influx of citizens, crowded roads, schools, hospitals, communities, even grocery stores will work itself out. Sooner, if we all find the best possible ways to adapt to our new reality.

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It seems the focus of separation has become who can put extra money in our pockets, Ottawa or a foreign government. Really, are some of us just wanting a bigger allowance without realizing the extra responsibility of having more? Grass is not greener on the other side and is usually full of weeds. When it comes to voting, please remember you are making one of the biggest decisions of your lifetime and those of your children and grandchildren.

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I personally do not want to take away from my family the beauty of this Alberta. A separate Alberta will never be the same. A place where our ancestors worked hard & created the life we are experiencing is to be cherished and not thrown away. Separation does not mean a better Alberta, just a different one. We all have different opinions on this huge decision, does it have to be black and white? Isn’t it better to explore what would make all our lives better in this beautiful province and work together to achieve this rather than using time, energy and money to move further away from a better life in this beautiful province? — Wendy Curlew

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