Alberta NDP leader Naheed Nenshi said the UCP caucus must distance itself from separatist rhetoric and challenge Premier Danielle Smith's handling of the issue.
The dispute centers on whether members of the governing party are coordinating with groups seeking to detach Alberta from Canada. Such allegations threaten to deepen political polarization in the province and raise questions about the stability of the UCP's internal platform.
Nenshi's comments follow reports that members of the United Conservative Party attended a virtual meeting in April 2026 [3] hosted by the Centurion Project, a separatist group. While some reports indicate two UCP members attended, including a party executive and a caucus staffer [2], the UCP has disputed the extent of this involvement.
A UCP spokesperson said at least one member of the caucus staff joined the virtual call last month [3]. However, a UCP communications director said the party is denying any wrongdoing and is reviewing the circumstances of the call [3].
Nenshi used the incident to call for a shift in leadership dynamics within the governing party. "The UCP caucus must have the courage to stand up to Premier Danielle Smith and put an end to the separatism debate," Nenshi said [1].
The controversy extends beyond a single virtual meeting. Some reports suggest members of Smith's caucus have signed a separatist referendum petition, though the UCP maintains it has provided no formal endorsement of such petitions [4].
The Centurion Project has also been accused of publishing voters' lists, adding a layer of data privacy concerns to the political friction [2]. Nenshi said that the presence of UCP staff at these meetings demonstrates a need for the caucus to formally reject separatist influence to maintain provincial stability.
“"The UCP caucus must have the courage to stand up to Premier Danielle Smith and put an end to the separatism debate."”
This conflict highlights a growing rift between the UCP's official party line and the influence of grassroots separatist movements. By framing the issue as a lack of 'courage' within the caucus, Nenshi is attempting to drive a wedge between Premier Smith and her members, while positioning the NDP as the defender of Canadian federalism in Alberta.
