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Many Albertans feel their province has become a tax farm—a contributor of wealth to regions that may not share their political ideologies or cultural attributes. This growing resentment towards unequal financial burden is starting to fuse with separatist sentiments.
The Legal Framework for Separation
From a legal standpoint, the process of separation isn't straightforward. A Supreme Court ruling in 1998 outlined a six-step process for any province considering separation. This includes holding a referendum, defining a clear referendum question, conducting a campaign and tallying votes, and subsequently requiring the House of Commons to assess whether the referendum reflects a "clear expression" of the will of the people.