Skip to Content Subscribe Our Offers My Account Manage My Subscriptions FAQ Newsletters Canada Canadian True Crime Canadian Politics Health World Israel & Middle East Financial Post NP Comment Longreads Puzzmo Diversions Comics NP News Quiz New York Times Crossword Horoscopes Life Eating & Drinking Style Sponsored Play for Ontario Travel Travel Canada Travel USA Travel International Cruises Travel Essentials Culture Books Celebrity Movies Music Theatre Television Business Essentials Advice Lives Told Tails Told Shopping Buy Canadian Home Living Outdoor Living Tech Style & Beauty Kitchen & Dining Personal Care Entertainment & Hobbies Gift Guide Travel Guide Deals Savings National Post Store More Sports Hockey Baseball Basketball Football Soccer Golf Tennis Driving Vehicle Research Reviews News Gear Guide Obituaries Place an Obituary Place an In Memoriam Classifieds Place an Ad Celebrations Working Business Ads Archives Healthing Epaper Manage Print Subscription Profile Settings My Subscriptions Saved Articles My Offers Newsletters Customer Service FAQ Newsletters Canada World Financial Post NP Comment Longreads Puzzmo Diversions Life Shopping Epaper Manage Print Subscription HomeNP CommentRick Bell: Danielle Smith drops a $400-billion bomb on Alberta separatism‘People need to understand what it would be to set up a fully functional national government from scratch,’ says the premier, whose government is preparing a report on the cost of leaving Canada You can save this article by registering for free here. Or sign-in if you have an account.Premier Danielle Smith speaks at a press conference in Calgary on Monday, June 1, 2026. Brent Calver/PostmediaAlberta Premier Danielle Smith drops a political bomb, a financial bomb, a bomb dropped on the separatist assumptions of way more gain than pain by Alberta leaving Canada and striking out on its own.Enjoy the latest local, national and international news.Exclusive articles by Conrad Black, Barbara Kay and others. Plus, special edition NP Platformed and First Reading newsletters and virtual events.Unlimited online access to National Post.National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.Support local journalism.Enjoy the latest local, national and international news.Exclusive articles by Conrad Black, Barbara Kay and others. Plus, special edition NP Platformed and First Reading newsletters and virtual events.Unlimited online access to National Post.National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.Support local journalism.Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.Access articles from across Canada with one account.Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments.Enjoy additional articles per month.Get email updates from your favourite authors.Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.Access articles from across Canada with one accountShare your thoughts and join the conversation in the commentsEnjoy additional articles per monthGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an AccountorAlmost $400 billion in start-up costs to set up an independent Alberta. Roughly $80,000 for every Albertan.Somewhere between $25 billion and $50 billion in yearly costs. Roughly up to $10,000 for every Albertan.Year after year after year.This newsletter from NP Comment tackles the topics you care about. (Subscriber-exclusive edition on Fridays)By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc.We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try againLook at a dictionary and this is the definition of eye-popping. This is not the definition of the land of milk and money.The Smith government is preparing a report looking at the price tag on leaving Canada.Smith is all in for the Remain in Canada side of the referendum fight leading to a vote on Oct. 19.The Alberta premier hopes the facts and figures will be out by August.She’s already spoken with the government’s new budget boss who is not known as a guy who lets sleeping dogs lie.Smith adds Trevor Tombe, the oft-quoted economist, has already done some back-of-the-envelope calculations.While we wait for all the arithmetic Smith rolls out the independence math she has at hand.She reads it off like a laundry list, a hugely expensive laundry.There’s Alberta’s share of the national debt.Alberta’s military spending needed to be part of the NATO alliance.Old age security, child tax benefit, the infrastructure for a pension plan, employment insurance, various other federal programs.Border stations at the borders with B.C. and Saskatchewan.Renegotiating a long list of trade agreements and setting up trade offices.Establishing a post office.Regulating telecommunications, banking, railways.“As you see it’s a pretty extensive list,” says Smith.And what does the cash register show?Payment due. Hundreds of billions of dollars.That’s billions with a B.When Smith says she is doubling down on Canada she means it.Rolling out the monster tab shows how determined the premier is to having the stay in Canada side win the vote in October.“People need to understand what it would be to set up a fully functional national government from scratch,” says the premier.“I think people just need to look at the facts and see whether what is being proposed is realistic.“I think it’s responsible for us to be very forthright about the costs associated with what is proposed here so people can make an informed decision.“I hope that decision is to remain in Canada.”You can almost hear the roar of disapproval from the social media voices of the Alberta independence movement.They were already ticked off.Smith didn’t give them a Yes/No vote on independence and they don’t buy the premier’s explanation that the separatist referendum petition being tied up in the courts means she can’t put the Yes/No vote on the October ballot.Some are working to dump her as UCP leader and premier.So Smith’s latest listing of Alberta independence expenses will enrage them more. Stay Free Alberta delivered signature documentation to Elections Alberta headquarters in Edmonton on Monday, May 4, 2026. Photo by Shaughn Butts /PostmediaSmith soldiers on. The premier mentions again how she will vote for Alberta to remain in Canada.She talks about how Brexit, pulling the United Kingdom out of the European Union, didn’t work out the way the Brexit backers anticipated.Once again, Smith says the independent Republic of Alberta will have to negotiate all new trade deals, including with the Americans and the Europeans.“That will cause a disruption in the economy.”“Presumably we’d have tariffs on all of our goods.“If your reject your allies then they reject you. I think we have to be realistic about what we would be looking for in dollars and cents.”Smith again adds she is supporting Alberta remaining in Canada.She uses the word of the day one more time. The premier obviously feels the word bears repeating.Realistic.“We want to be very realistic what kind of costs and inconveniences people would have in their life if they decided to vote otherwise.”To vote to go down the road to independence.So there is the report where the details of the gobsmacking price to be paid for Alberta independence will be rolled out.“It can’t be done overnight,” says Smith.“We want it out in time for people to have enough time to digest it before the vote.”The vote in October.By the way, Smith also isn’t sure citizens of an independent Alberta will get to keep a Canadian passport. Join the Conversation This website uses cookies to personalize your content (including ads), and allows us to analyze our traffic. Read more about cookies here. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.