Star Metro - Alberta separatists vow to fight on, risking turmoil for Canada

The western province chose overwhelmingly on Monday to remain a part of Canada, with 75.5 percent of voters rejecting a plan to move forward with a binding independence referendum.

As he entered parliament on Tuesday, Prime Minister Mark Carney said he was "thrilled that Albertans have chosen unity."

Asked what message he'd like to deliver to the separatist side, Carney, who grew up in Alberta, said: "The result is absolutely clear. It's a large majority for Canada and now is the time to work together."

But separatist leaders projected a starkly different message after the results came in.

Jeffrey Rath, a top official with the Alberta Prosperity Project who met with US officials earlier this year to discuss support for the secession project, said the fight would "absolutely" continue.

"We've created a massive movement in this province," he said. "We're continuing to move forward."

Rath told reporters it was impossible to win an independence referendum while Alberta is led by someone who supports Canadian unity.

He vowed to challenge Premier Danielle Smith, who aligned with Carney, and "to take control back" of Alberta's conservative movement.

"We will form a government, period," he said.

- 'Deep-seated grievances' -

Alberta's separatist movement is factionalized.

Chris Scott, who founded Let's Talk Alberta to promote independence, told AFP on Tuesday that he will also continue pushing the cause.

But, he said, plans for separatists to immediately take over the provincial government and launch another referendum would fail.

"Seventy-five percent of Albertans would reject that idea flat out," he said. "People have to realize you can gain some support for an idea or a movement by sharing Facebook memes, but at a certain point you have to focus on the real work of education."

For Carney, Alberta is essential to his plans to solidify Canada's economy and reduce dependence on the United States.

He and Smith are working together on advancing a new pipeline from Alberta to the Pacific coast, hoping to export Alberta bitumen to Asia.

Experts warned that despite Carney's message of unity, there may be trouble ahead.

The referendum result was not enough to "completely close debate" on secession, University of Ottawa political scientist Geneviève Tellier told AFP.

"We can no longer trivialize this movement," she added.

Tellier said Carney handled the separatist push well and massive federal financial support for a pipeline was an effective way to contain secessionist momentum.

But, she argued, the moment that federal money for major Alberta projects runs out, "problems are likely to start for Mr. Carney."

Writing in Tuesday's Globe and Mail, Alberta expert Tyler Dawson warned that "there are deep-seated grievances in this province, and a 'remain' vote does not make those issues go away."

Resentments persist on several issues, including perceptions that the provincial oil industry is being suppressed by environmental regulations.

"Roughly one-quarter of Albertans have said they want to hold another referendum on leaving Canada. Mr. Carney mustn't discount that," Dawson said.

D.Cameron--SMC