As 2025 draws to a close, the conversation around Alberta’s sovereignty and self-determination is heating up—and so is the opposition. A recent video by Alberta commentator John Bolton, titled “To My Friends In Alberta Independence – Watch Your Back”, serves as a sobering reminder that peaceful advocacy for independence is increasingly being met with extreme and authoritarian-sounding rhetoric from some quarters.
Uploaded on New Year’s Eve, Bolton’s message (available here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ChCVSVhYU3M) directly addresses activists on the front lines of the movement. He highlights the escalating language being used online—terms like “traitor,” “sedition,” and even calls for state surveillance—warning that such rhetoric could create real risks for those peacefully organising.
Bolton specifically references a widely circulated post by Ottawa columnist Clinton Desveaux, who suggested that discussing Alberta independence with international figures makes the United States a “strategic enemy” of Canada and called for CSIS to track movements and CSE to monitor communications of those involved. This kind of language, Bolton notes, drifts into dangerous territory and underscores the need for caution, especially as signature collection for a potential independence referendum is expected to ramp up in the coming weeks.
If this is true, it means the United States is now a strategic enemy of Canada. The 2 people in the video should have all of their physical movements tracked by CSIS and all electronic communications data tracked by the CSE. It also means Canada must rapidly expand global trade… https://t.co/Md4lrr9iJ5
— Clinton Desveaux (@ClintonDesveaux) December 28, 2025
He advises activists collecting signatures door-to-door to travel in pairs, walk away from hostile encounters, and remain aware of their surroundings. At the same time, Bolton points out encouraging signs: legal experts have stated there are no laws prohibiting separatists from engaging with foreign officials, and charges of treason or sedition would face extraordinarily high legal barriers. He also argues that opponents consistently underestimate the movement—a dynamic that has proven to be a strategic advantage in other unexpected political shifts, from Brexit to major electoral upsets.
The Alberta Prosperity Project (APP) has been clear in pushing back against this kind of overreach. In a recent post on X, APP wrote:
“This Columnist from Ottawa’s suggestion to have CSIS track the movements and CSE monitor the communications of Albertans peacefully discussing independence—and to brand the US a “strategic enemy” for engaging with us—sounds eerily like the Chinese Communist Party’s rhetoric toward the Dalai Lama and Tibetan advocates.
China routinely labels the Dalai Lama a ‘splittist,’ accuses him of trying to split the motherland, and condemns any foreign leader who meets him as ‘grossly interfering in China’s internal affairs.’ They closely monitor and suppress Tibetan voices calling for greater autonomy.
Peaceful, democratic self-determination for Alberta is not treason or sedition—it’s a legitimate expression of freedom in a supposed liberal democracy that many independence movements, including Quebec, have a long history of seeking international support.
If you oppose Alberta independence, debate us on the merits. Don’t call for state surveillance on your fellow citizens.”
This Columnist from Ottawa's suggestion to have CSIS track the movements and CSE monitor the communications of Albertans peacefully discussing independence—and to brand the US a "strategic enemy" for engaging with us—sounds eerily like the Chinese Communist Party's rhetoric… https://t.co/1EzZnvikKJ
— Alberta Prosperity Project (@ABProsperityPrj) December 31, 2025
(Full post: https://x.com/ABProsperityPrj/status/2006503995679154476)
This comparison is stark but apt. Advocating for greater autonomy or even full independence through democratic, non-violent means is a protected expression in Canada. It is not disloyalty—it is democracy in action. Quebec’s sovereignty movement has long engaged international audiences without facing calls for mass surveillance. Albertans deserve the same respect.
The double standard becomes even clearer when comparing Alberta’s movement to Quebec’s long-standing sovereignty efforts. In a direct response on X to one critic who framed international engagement by separatists as requiring “basic national security” measures and “consequences,” the Alberta Prosperity Project pointed out: If such monitoring is warranted, why has it never been broadly applied to Quebec sovereigntists? For decades, Quebec has held official referendums, pursued international outreach, and maintained the Bloc Québécois in Parliament—all without widespread demands for CSIS tracking or CSE surveillance of their activists. This inconsistency reveals that peaceful democratic advocacy is treated differently depending on the province. Albertans seeking self-determination deserve the same respect and freedom to debate ideas openly, without selective calls for state oversight.
Thank you for your reply, I'll embed it into the article.
— Alberta Prosperity Project (@ABProsperityPrj) December 31, 2025
If monitoring separatist movements that engage internationally is “basic national security” and “consequences,” are you advocating the same for Quebec sovereigntists?
They’ve been doing exactly this for decades—official…
Bolton’s video is not about fear; it is about preparedness. The movement is gaining momentum precisely because more Albertans are recognizing the structural imbalances that hold our province back. Ottawa’s repeated overreach on energy, resources, and fiscal transfers has fueled legitimate frustration. As Bolton emphasizes, the other side’s increasingly shrill responses reveal their own uncertainty.
If you oppose Alberta independence, debate us on the merits. Don’t call for state surveillance on your fellow citizens.
To everyone working toward a freer, more prosperous Alberta: stay sharp, stay safe, and keep moving forward. The path to self-determination is built on calm resolve, not provocation.
For more information on the clear case for Alberta sovereignty, visit our education centre: https://albertaprosperityproject.com/education/
We wish all Albertans a safe and prosperous New Year.