EDMONTON – In the beginning it was Quebec. The dream of an independent nation, separate from the rest of Canada, has always been the prerogative of the most French-speaking (and least North American) province in the country. But the two referendums for independence – in 1980 and 1995 – rejected this idea, although not entirely clearly: in 1995, the “no” votes prevailed over the “yes” votes 50.58% to 49.42%. By a hair’s breadth, Quebec did not “break away”. Today, the wind of separatism is blowing strongly in Alberta, the most American province in Canada. There, the secessionist movement actually already existed but has now gained strength and what until now had been a breeze risks turning into a tornado, powered by the victory of Donald Trump in the USA and the defeat of the Canadian Conservatives in the federal elections. →