Thomas Lukaszuk, the leader of the successful Forever Canada citizens' petition, has been invited to Ottawa by the Prime Minister’s Office to discuss the growing separatist sentiment in Alberta. He warns that this rising anger could pose national security risks and urges federal officials to consider the implications for national unity.

Lukaszuk believes Prime Minister Mark Carney is aware of the situation in Alberta and is genuinely concerned. "I think not only is he concerned about, you know, just having an angry province," Lukaszuk stated, "but in any country, you cannot have a large cohort of angry white men."

Despite the success of the Forever Canada petition, which has garnered over 400,000 valid signatures—nearly 14 percent of eligible voters in Alberta—Lukaszuk remains cautious. The petition simply asks, "Do you agree that Alberta should remain within Canada?" The next steps will be determined by Alberta Premier Danielle Smith, who can either call for a referendum or have the legislature vote on a new law affirming Alberta's commitment to Canada.

Lukaszuk expressed confusion among petitioners, some of whom expected a pro-Canada referendum. "We gave her (the Alberta premier) a choice," he said. He speculated that Smith might opt for a referendum, especially after facing backlash at a recent United Conservative Party convention.

At the convention, Smith was booed when she mentioned a memorandum of understanding with Carney regarding an oil export pipeline. Lukaszuk, who has political ties to Smith, noted her ability to navigate political challenges. In a recent interview, Smith stated she had no issue supporting federalism, saying, "Canada can work."

In response to the separatist movement, Lukaszuk quickly filed a pro-Canada alternative to a referendum question proposed by the Alberta Prosperity Project. He has raised nearly $400,000 for the initiative, which includes a campaign bus and a recognizable logo. He claims to have gathered half a million signatures and about 25,000 volunteers.

Lukaszuk has met with federal officials, including members of the Senate, and reported that they are closely monitoring the situation in Alberta. He plans to return to Ottawa next week to discuss the urgent need to address the anger among some Albertans. "There are issues we need to deal with immediately because we cannot have a segment of the population that is angry," he said. "This can become a national security issue also."

He identifies two groups of separatists in Alberta. The first group, he estimates, comprises about 10 percent of the population and consists of hard-core separatists who are unlikely to change their views. This group is primarily made up of Caucasian males aged 20 to 45, many of whom have been involved in protests against federal policies.

The second group, also around 10 percent, consists of what Lukaszuk calls soft-core separatists. They may support separatism as a bargaining tactic, believing it could lead to better deals from Ottawa.

Lukaszuk cautions that dismissing the separatist sentiment as mere noise could be a mistake. "I will be the first one standing up, saying 'you’re wrong,'" he asserted. "These people are upset. Maybe the level of their anger is out of proportion because it’s being fed and fueled by other interests."

He shared a concerning anecdote about what he calls the "lost boys," referring to Nova Scotians who return from working in Alberta with radicalized views. He expressed concern about a small group of angry, armed individuals in Alberta, emphasizing the need for attention to the underlying issues driving this sentiment.

As Alberta grapples with these challenges, the future of its relationship with the federal government remains uncertain, with the voices of over 400,000 petition signers echoing the need for dialogue and resolution.