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Mitch Sylvestre, leader of the separatist group Alberta Prosperity Project, said he’s not concerned about foreign interference in the debate surrounding a possible referendum on Alberta independence. (Jason Markusoff\/CBC)<\/p>\nAfter a new report put a spotlight on popular YouTube videos with unclear origin promoting Alberta separatism, an independence leader said he’s unconcerned about foreign interference influencing a possible upcoming separation referendum.<\/p>\n
Mitch Sylvestre, the CEO of the Alberta Prosperity Project, said claims of foreign interference in the Alberta independence debate are \u201coverblown.”<\/p>\n
He was responding to a new report about a network of inauthentic and coordinated YouTube channels, which the report’s authors argue is exploiting Albertans’ grievances with the federal government to advance the idea of separating from Canada and joining the United States.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis foreign interference thing, as far as I\u2019m concerned, is a fairy tale up to this point,\u201d Sylvestre said.<\/p>\n
The report, published Tuesday by the Canadian Digital Media Research Network, analyzes channels that post videos with such titles as “Danielle Smith Just ANNOUNCED the Biggest Separation in Canadian History Is About to HAPPEN!\u201d and “Alberta & Saskatchewan Just GOT OFFICIALLY BACKED By The US! 51ST-52ND STATEHOOD INCOMING!”<\/p>\n
Researchers analyzed 20 YouTube accounts that have totaled nearly 40 million views in the past year. The channels’ videos are designed similarly while drawing from the same subjects and news clips, while including “frequent and obvious lies,” the report said.<\/p>\n
\u201cSlopaganda\u201d is how the report describes the videos, referring to inauthentic, low-quality, and seemingly mass-produced videos that use generative AI and promote a political message.<\/p>\n
Chris Ross, one of the report\u2019s authors, said his team couldn\u2019t confirm the origin or intent of the videos, but they found several channels with the same template and \u201cdigital fingerprints,\u201d indicating a coordinated production.<\/p>\n
LISTEN | Researcher discusses latest report on ‘Slopaganda’ YouTube videos to Albertans:<\/p>\n
Calgary Eyeopener6:59A new report has identified a host of online sources promoting disinformation around Alberta’s separatist movement<\/p>\n
Senior Analyst at the ‘Centre for Media Technology and Democracy’ at McGill University’s School of Public Policy, Chris Ross, joined us with what he’s learned about the rise of fake YouTube channels selling separation to Albertans.<\/p>\n
“We think that the highly skewed, charged language they use is indicative of a political angle,\u201d said Ross, a survey analyst for the Media Ecosystem Observatory, on CBC Radio\u2019s The Calgary Eyeopener.<\/p>\n
“But it might just be because this is a very salient topic, and they’re taking advantage of it to grow their YouTube presence.”<\/p>\n
The inauthenticity of the videos can be seen, the report argued, in how the video’s human and AI-generated voiceovers often mispronounce, miscontextualize or misunderstand what they’re discussing. One example Ross pointed to was how city names like Regina were mispronounced.<\/p>\n
It’s unclear where the videos are coming from or who is behind the channels, Ross said. The only person the report’s authors identified in the 20 channels is a Pennsylvania-based voice actor.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey perform this western, Albertan perspective. But from what we can tell, they\u2019re not Albertans,” Ross said.<\/p>\n
CBC News reached out to two of the most popular YouTube channels identified in the report for comment, but did not receive a response before publication.<\/p>\n
Separatist leader not worried about foreign interference<\/p>\n
Sylvestre said he\u2019s unconcerned about the prospect of the Alberta independence debate being influenced by people and organizations outside of Canada, because he doesn\u2019t see it happening nor how it would benefit anyone outside the province.<\/p>\n
He added he had never heard of the videos the report analyzed before being contacted by CBC News on Tuesday, and he doesn\u2019t see how the YouTube channels would hurt the work of real separatist groups.<\/p>\n
Mitch Sylvestre, leader of the separatist group Alberta Prosperity Project, said he’s not concerned about foreign interference in the debate surrounding a possible referendum on Alberta independence. (Jason Markusoff\/CBC)<\/p>\n
\u201cIf it\u2019s telling the truth and people want to watch that, it influences the vote our way, then I can\u2019t see how that would be negative for us,\u201d Sylvestre said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf they\u2019re promoting Alberta independence, that\u2019s what I do. So if the information is not accurate, then that\u2019s possibly not going to help us. [But] who\u2019s going to determine the accuracy of the information?\u201d<\/p>\n
YouTube reviewing accounts<\/p>\n
YouTube spokesperson Zaitoon Murji said Tuesday the website is reviewing the channels included in the Canadian Digital Media Research Network\u2019s report, and will remove any content that violates its community guidelines.<\/p>\n
\u201cYouTube doesn\u2019t allow spam, scam or other deceptive practices that take advantage of the YouTube community,\u201d said Murji via email.<\/p>\n
![](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/1776879317_211_default.jpg\")
A new report argued YouTube should share information about who is behind several YouTube channels directed at Albertan audiences that exploit Albertans’ grievances with the federal government. (Pixabay)<\/p>\n
Ross would like to see the website go further.<\/p>\n
He argued YouTube should disclose data about geo-targeted advertisements or other metrics that could provide more information about whether the videos are being directed at a specific region, and share information about the ownership history of the accounts.<\/p>\n
“We think that these really important democratic conversations that Albertans are having should be by real Albertans with genuine opinions, not by people performing an Albertan perspective,\u201d Ross said.<\/p>\n
Alberta potentially unprepared for foreign interference<\/p>\n
National security experts have previously warned<\/a> that Alberta is not ready for the threat of online disinformation that could come from foreign actors ahead of a possible referendum on separation from Canada this fall.<\/p>\n
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A judge recently put a pause on certifying a petition attempting to gather enough signatures for a referendum on Albertan independence. (CBC)<\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/1776879318_868_default.jpg\")
University of Calgary assistant professor Jean-Christophe Boucher said there’s clearly a lot of resources behind the “slopaganda” videos directed at Albertan audiences on YouTube. (CBC)<\/p>\n