Hundreds of people filled a banquet hall in Calgary last week to hear from the Alberta Prosperity Project, a group that wants Alberta to separate from Canada.

They're trying to drum up support for a petition and earn enough signatures to trigger a referendum on separation in 2026.

One of the reasons the petition is picking up steam is because Premier Danielle Smith's United Conservative Party has just passed legislation that would lower the bar for holding a referendum vote.

Jason Markusoff is a producer and writer who covers Alberta politics for the CBC. He speaks to host Jayme Poisson about Smith's latest political moves, including the backlash, as well as the separatist movement itself.

For transcripts of Front Burner, please visit: https://www.cbc.ca/radio/frontburner/transcripts