Separation Anxiety: The Alberta Referendum
Podcast

Separation Anxiety: The Alberta Referendum

Danielle Paradis and Tim Querengesser

4 episodes

There's a referendum in Alberta this fall, and independence is on the ballot - sort of. Who are the separatists? What do they actually want? And what happens to the rest of Canada if they get it? Separation Anxiety is a five‑part investigative series from award‑winning Alberta journalists Danielle Paradis and Tim Querengesser that aims to find out. Join them as they follow organizers into church boardrooms and hot‑dog picnics to examine the influences, ideas and grievances fuelling Alberta’s modern separatist movement. From its century-old roots to the anti-lockdown protests, trucker convoy and political upheaval that brought Danielle Smith to power, Separation Anxiety also traces the movement’s evolution — and why it is now tied to accusations of criminal treason and treaty‑rights violations. Produced with the support of Canadian True Crime, Separation Anxiety launches September 22 and will be released weekly. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.

What this show covers

Canadian politicsAlberta separatismTreaty rightsAlberta separationFirst NationsIndigenous politicsEnergy politicsPopulismDanielle SmithPolitical movementsChristian nationalismPrairie identityregional identityseparatismAlberta politics

What listeners will find here

What Alberta separation could mean for treaties—and why some say there’s no exit
Alberta separation is examined through a question many voters may overlook: what happens to treaties? Danielle Paradis and Tim Querengesser hear separatist arguments, then bring in treaty experts Rob Houle and Jodi Calahoo Stonehouse to explain why they believe leaving Canada is not an option.
Can Alberta separatism’s biggest promises survive a math check?
Alberta separatism is put under the microscope, from claims of a trillion-dollar surplus and no income tax to the deeper grievances driving the movement. The episode mixes a tense town hall with historians and political scientists who test the politics, economics, and rhetoric behind independence.
Inside Alberta separatism and the pull of Christian nationalism
Alberta separatism is the focus here, as reporters Tim Querengesser and Danielle Paradis spend the summer with people pushing to leave Canada. The episode follows that movement across rallies, celebrations, and a Calgary church while asking what fuels it and how Christian nationalism fits in.
What Alberta separatism could mean as a referendum approaches
Alberta journalists Danielle Paradis and Tim Querengesser dig into the upcoming Alberta separatist referendum. The episode centers on what’s driving the debate and why this vote is becoming a major political flashpoint.

Episodes

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