Edmonton, Alberta – November 28, 2025 – As the United Conservative Party (UCP) Annual General Meeting (AGM) kicked off today at the Edmonton Expo Centre, the air was thick with the raw energy of a province on the brink. Day 1 wasn’t just a routine gathering of party faithful; it was a stark revelation of the growing chasm between Alberta’s grassroots conservatives and the federalist status quo. From boos raining down on Premier Danielle Smith’s defence of the recent Ottawa energy deal to a roaring standing ovation for independence advocate Jeff Rath, the message was clear: Albertans are done with half-measures and are demanding full sovereignty.
"But I hope people today feel a lot more confident that Canada works than they did a couple days ago" Smith
— Alberta Prosperity Project (@ABProsperityPrj) November 29, 2025
80-85% of the audience booed
Madam Premier Smith, please listen to your members about Alberta independence. #UCPAGM pic.twitter.com/ouwpWjd4z7
The day’s proceedings began with registration and updates from UCP Leader Danielle Smith and Party President. But it was Smith’s address that set the tone – and not in the way she might have hoped. Addressing a crowd of up to 4,450 delegates, the Premier attempted to spin the freshly inked Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on energy and pipelines with Ottawa as “a clear win” for Alberta. Yet, when she quipped, “But I hope people today feel a lot more confident that Canada works than they did a couple days ago,” the response was immediate and unmistakable: 80-85% of the audience erupted in boos, a visceral rejection of the very federation that’s long squeezed Alberta dry.
Rath now then ripped into the MOU and shouted to the room "who supports an independent Alberta?"
— Cory Morgan (@CoryBMorgan) November 29, 2025
The room broke into loud cheers and a standing ovation.
The independence element is stronger in here than even I imagined pic.twitter.com/SWxYmn9VmI
This moment, captured in a widely shared clip, underscores the deepening frustration among UCP members. The MOU – touted by Smith as a step toward ditching the emissions cap and advancing pipelines – feels like another federal concession dressed up as progress. Critics, including many in the room, see it for what it is: more empty promises from a Liberal government in Ottawa that’s never hesitated to wield the carbon tax, equalization imbalances, and regulatory roadblocks against our energy sector. As one delegate put it in the aftermath, “She’s on glue if she thinks Canada works.” The boos weren’t just noise; they were a mandate.
🚨BREAKING: A standing ovation erupted at the UCP AGM as Jeff Rath called for Alberta independence.
— Rise Of Alberta (@RiseOfAlberta) November 29, 2025
The room exploded. The movement is louder than ever.
Video: @RebelNewsOnline pic.twitter.com/50J4132TQM
But the real fireworks came later, when Jeff Rath, a vocal champion of Alberta independence and our Constitutional Lawyer, took the stage. Rath didn’t mince words, tearing into the MOU as a betrayal of Alberta’s interests and rallying the crowd with a direct challenge: “Who supports an independent Alberta?” The response? A deafening roar of cheers, whistles, and a full standing ovation that shook the hall – louder and more sustained than the applause Smith received for her entire address. And the they cut his mic! It was a scene straight out of Alberta’s sovereignty playbook: unfiltered, unapologetic, and utterly electric.
@JeffreyRWRath from @ABProsperityPrj has the entire @Alberta_UCP AGM making it clear how we want an Independent Alberta!
— Mister Alberta (@MisterAlberta) November 29, 2025
It's time for the Rise Of Alberta!#UCP #UCPAGM #AlbertaIndependence #cdnpoli #ABPoli #albertastrong #albertaseparation #strongandfree pic.twitter.com/7lqoYQc6xz
This surge of support for independence isn’t a fringe sentiment – it’s the beating heart of the UCP base. As columnist Cory Morgan observed on site, “The independence element is stronger in here than even I imagined.” Smith herself appeared rattled, facing boos again when she awkwardly pivoted to supporting “an independent Alberta in a united Canada.” She recovered some ground by vowing to fight the emissions cap and push for pipelines, earning measured applause. But the damage was done. Without bold action – like scheduling a referendum to harness this momentum – the party risks a damaging split, handing victories to the NDP on a silver platter.
Day 1 also spotlighted the UCP board elections, where pro-independence candidates are vying for seats that could steer the party toward real autonomy. The Alberta Prosperity Project (APP) urges all delegates to back these freedom fighters. Our Voter Guide for Pro-Alberta Independence Candidates breaks it down: vote for those committed to putting Alberta first, free from Ottawa’s grip.
RAISING THE ROOF: Independence leader Rath gets standing ovation at the UCP AGM as he challenges Smith https://t.co/AbZ7TKfZ41
— Western Standard (@WSOnlineNews) November 29, 2025
As APP, we’re not just observers – we’re the vanguard of Alberta’s prosperity. Our policy platform outlines a roadmap to sovereignty: fair resource control, economic self-determination, and an end to federal overreach. Today’s events prove the tide is turning. The boos for “Canada works” and cheers for independence aren’t outliers; they’re the future.
Albertans, this is our moment. Join us at www.albertaprosperity.com to educate, organize, and build the independent Alberta we deserve.