Bell: Angry Alberta separatists now on the warpath against Danielle Smith

Advertisement 1 This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Breadcrumb Trail Links HomeNewsLocal NewsNationalPoliticsOpinionColumnists Bell: Angry Alberta separatists now on the warpath against Danielle Smith Separatists take on Premier Danielle Smith. Read on to find out why. Author of the article: By Rick Bell Published Sep 18, 2026 Last updated 41 minutes ago 3 minute read Join the conversation Separatist leader Mitch Sylvestre says Premier Danielle Smith's campaign against Alberta independence has created dissension in UCP ranks. PHOTO BY GREG SOUTHAM /Postmedia Edmonton archive Article content They drop the gloves. Article content Whether this is a skirmish or a full-scale bench-clearing brawl, whether this is much ado about nothing or a gathering political storm, is now a question seeking an answer. Article content Article content The breaking news. Article content The board representing UCP members in Highwood, a riding including Okotoks, calls for a vote on Premier Danielle Smith’s leadership of the party. Article content Article content It is one riding out of 87 in Alberta. Article content Noon News Roundup Your weekday lunchtime roundup of curated links, news highlights, analysis and features. Sign Up By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. Article content If 21 more UCP boards join the political conga line against the premier there would be a review of Smith’s leadership. Article content Two years ago, Smith smacked the people I called the smart set and the loudmouths and received a stunning 91.5 per cent thumbs-up from UCP members at their big meeting in Red Deer. Article content “I would suggest 91.5 per cent is forever gone,” says Mitch Sylvestre. Article content Sylvestre heads up the Alberta Prosperity Project. He and a few others led the charge to gather enough signatures to put Alberta independence to a vote of Albertans. Article content He and others in the Alberta independence movement want Smith to remain neutral leading up to the Oct. 19 vote on whether Alberta should remain in Canada or go down the road to a vote on whether or not to leave Canada. Article content Smith is speaking out for a sovereign Alberta within a united Canada. Article content “What I think Danielle Smith has done consciously or unconsciously is she has clearly split the party. Article content “The consequences…