The largely conservative province may hold a referendum on separating from the nation in 2026, according to its premier.

Premier Danielle Smith says her focus will be on repairing the destruction she says Ottawa has caused to Alberta over the past decade as the idea of separation from Canada gains greater public attention.

Chiefs from Treaty 6, 7 and 8 gathered in Edmonton for an emergency meeting where they were blunt in their criticism of Premier Danielle Smith