Alberta Premier Danielle Smith has announced a province-wide referendum for October 19 on whether it should separate from Canada. Voters will choose between remaining in Canada or starting the process for a future binding independence referendum.

Alberta, which holds the world’s fourth-largest crude oil reserves, contributes almost as much to Canada’s growth as its financial and manufacturing hub of Ontario, which has more than three times the population. But Albertans’ economic priorities are constantly suppressed or ridiculed by elites back East who hang out with climate change crazies.

No wonder half of Albertans support independence and more than a fifth would support joining the U.S.

“A large and growing number of Albertans have lost hope in Alberta having a free and prosperous future as a part of Canada,” Premier Smith says, though she opposes the measure.

We welcome this debate in Canada and we believe in self-determination. As Albertans have made more noises about separation, Prime Minister Mark Carney has shelved many of his more obnoxious environmental policies and fast-tracked a new pipeline to the West Coast. But if the anti-fossil fuel left in Canada continues its assault on Alberta’s economy, they WILL eventually say au revoire.