Subhead:Both the RCMP and CSIS have publicly stated there is no evidence of foreign interference involved in Alberta’s referendum. Volunteers have spent months collecting signatures, hosting town halls, distributing signs, and raising money to make their case for leaving Confederation.#
Mount Royal University criminology professor Kelly Sundberg is warning Albertans that foreign actors could exploit the independence referendum by spreading online propaganda designed to manipulate voters, amplify grievances and ultimately “destroy our democracy.”
Foreign interference is a legitimate national-security concern. Russia, China and other hostile states have attempted to interfere in Western democracies, and nobody should assume Alberta is somehow immune.
But there is a rather large problem with applying that warning to Alberta’s independence movement: there is no publicly disclosed evidence that foreign interference is responsible for the movement, its growth or the arguments being made by Albertans supporting independence.
In fact, the RCMP has already said it has found no credible evidence linking foreign governments to Alberta’s separatist movement. Alberta Public Safety Minister Mike Ellis said RCMP officials advised the province there was no evidence to substantiate allegations that foreign governments were behind the movement.
CSIS has also acknowledged it is monitoring the independence debate and the potential for foreign interference surrounding the referendum. But publicly identifying a risk of interference is not evidence that interference has actually occurred.
Update: Here is the full letter. In an attempt to highlight a certain section, it appeared as redacted. https://t.co/Y7PJkV0KRl pic.twitter.com/lE6clkIdf8
— Naheed Nenshi (@nenshi) August 3, 2026
A threat assessment is not proof of a threat materializing.
Yet Sundberg told Alberta Primetime that Albertans should question the information they encounter online, asking “who’s actually producing this, and why?” He predicted that with the referendum approaching, “the campaigning, if you will, and the propaganda is yet to come.”
Calling the coming referendum campaign “propaganda,” particularly in the middle of a discussion about Russia, China and foreign manipulation, risks discounting the enormous amount of legitimate political organizing being done openly by Albertans themselves.
The independence campaign did not suddenly materialize from mysterious social-media accounts in Moscow or Beijing.
Hundreds of thousands of Albertans signed the citizen initiative petition seeking a referendum. Volunteers spent months collecting those signatures across the province. Independence organizations have held town halls, rallies and public events, distributed signs, raised money and publicly made their case for leaving Confederation.
Alberta canvassers now exceed the number of RCMP in the province (~4000)
And is approaching the number of CAF active service (~11,000) https://t.co/1uRzMwhxHj
— Yukon Strong 🫎 (@YukonStrong) February 17, 2026
Then there are Alberta’s registered third-party advertisers.
Here’s the most recent financial reporting for the Alberta independence referendum 3rd party advertisers.
“Let Alberta Decided” is approaching the limit set by the Elections Act with nearly $400,000 raised. pic.twitter.com/8X9heZv3fg
— Martyupnorth®- Unacceptable Fact Checker (@Martyupnorth) August 11, 2026
Elections Alberta regulates referendum TPAs. Organizations meeting the applicable contribution or spending thresholds must register and are subject to provincial election-finance and reporting requirements.
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