Alberta’s Opposition NDP is calling on the premier and her party to unequivocally denounce the province’s growing separatist movement, as large groups lined up to sign a petition in Calgary on Monday.

Leader Naheed Nenshi says he will send a letter to each MLA, asking them to sign and denounce separatism, and to make their position known to their constituents.

“We need a government that strengthens our place in Canada and protects our economic future,” said Nenshi on Monday. “We’re calling on the premier, the UCP government, and every MLA to be crystal clear to Albertans: Are you on Team Canada or are you a separatist?”

It comes as hundreds of people waited in line at the Big Four Roadhouse on the Stampede grounds Monday, as an independence group called Stay Free Alberta gathered signatures for a petition to hold a referendum on separating from Canada, amid long-held frustration with the federal government.

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith said in the Corus Radio call-in show Your Province, Your Premier, over the weekend that she is letting the signature-collection process play out.

And after U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Besent said he believed most Albertans want to separate and “want what the U.S. has got,” petition initiator Mitch Silvestre and Smith said joining the U.S. isn’t the case. Smith says she “supports a strong and sovereign Alberta within a united Canada.”

Nenshi criticized Smith’s choice of words on Monday, accusing her of playing both sides.

“We don’t need your word salad,” the opposition leader said. “Albertans are smarter than that; they want to know one thing: are you a separatist, or aren’t you?”

A recent Ipsos poll released near the start of 2026 found that only 28 per cent of Albertans support separation, and about half of those maintain their support when presented with the consequences.

The age group with the most support was 18-34 (29 per cent), while the 55+ group carried the largest share in voting no (69 per cent).

There was what looks like a show of support, however, from Canadian country singer Paul Brandt, who posted a photo of himself with the lyrics to his song “Alberta Bound” layered over the top on X Saturday.

In the lyrics, the “I’ve got independence in my veins” part is highlighted with a larger font.

While Brandt hasn’t elaborated on the post, comments show a division within his fan base: many are applauding it, while others are denouncing it and expressing disappointment.

660 NewsRadio has reached out to Brandt for comment.

Meanwhile, UCP and NDP MLAs have already approved money so Elections Alberta can prepare for a referendum vote this year. But it’s not clear which question will appear on ballots: the one to go or the one to stay.

Both Jeffrey Rath, a lawyer for Silvestre, and Thomas Lukaszuk, who gathered over 400,000 signatures in a petition to stay in Canada, agree that Smith is likely to choose the question proposed by the separatists.

With files from The Canadian Press