Albertans recently opted to remain in Canada, with only 24% of voters backing separation in a referendum that was called amid pressure from separatists who resent the federal government's treatment of the province.
With 1.5 million votes tallied, 76% of residents in the oil-rich province voted to remain in Canada, a result Alberta Premier Danielle Smith welcomed.
Brian Rushfeldt is not surprised.
"I believe that … the separatist drivers are some very unstable, unhappy people that tried to stir up a problem," he tells AFN. "Most Albertans were smarter than that, so I'm not surprised that it was that strong."
Alberta is one of Canada's wealthiest provinces, with an economy driven by oil, natural gas, agriculture and other natural resources.
Its separation movement stems from frustration with federal environmental regulations, restrictions on energy development and the belief that Alberta contributes more in federal taxes than it receives in benefits. Many residents also feel that Canada's political system favors central Canada over the West.
The province's substantial resource wealth and strong conservative identity have led some residents to believe they could thrive independently. Others favor greater provincial autonomy rather than separation, which would bring significant challenges involving trade, transportation, public finances and constitutional negotiations.
Although most Albertans made clear they want to remain in Canada, Rushfeldt believes they also want the country's problems addressed. However, he does not expect Prime Minister Mark Carney to make concessions.
"In fact, I think he'll use the vote to say, 'Well, look how good we're doing in Canada,'" Rushfeldt predicts.
In his view, the only remedy for the disparities Albertans face may be through the courts, eventually taking the issue to the Supreme Court of Canada — a costly, lengthy process.
So, Canadians will have to wait for change, and he hopes the liberals will be replaced by a conservative government when Canada holds its next national election, expected in two years.
"I think over these next two years, many more Canadians are going to be struggling financially, job-wise, in many areas of their life to the point where they finally realize that it is the liberals that are causing the problem with their tax and spend; they've been funneling money out of the country by the billions," Rushfeldt tells AFN.
"Once Canadians hit hard times, I think that might cause enough of a shift," he says.
In the meantime, he expects the liberals to continue playing the blame game.
"In two years, [Donald] Trump won't be in office any longer, so they won't be able to use that excuse," Rushfeldt says. "Then they'll start to look at home and see the problems that we have are because of Carney and his absolutely atrocious Liberal policies."
He believes that realization could prompt "a very significant change in the voting" in the next election.
