Vancouver, British Columbia - The prime minister of the Canadian oil-rich province said on Monday that she will hold a referendum on separation from Canada next year if the petition led by citizenship reaches the required number of signatures.

Danielle Smith said in her speech that she personally does not support leaving Canada's province and said "forward" to Canada's unified powerful and sovereign Alberta.

“For whatever reason, Ottawa will continue to attack our province as it has done in the past decade and it will eventually be the decision of Alberta,” she said. “I will accept their judgment.”

Smith announced the news only a week after Prime Minister Mark Carney led the Liberal Party to a fourth consecutive federal government. This is also because U.S. President Donald Trump continues to threaten Canada through tariffs and talks about the country becoming the 51st state.

Carney and Trump are scheduled to meet at the White House on Tuesday.

The Smith United Conservative government recently proposed legislation that, if passed, would reduce the need for lawyer petitioners to meet to spark a provincial referendum.

The bill would change the rules of referendum initiated by citizens, requiring petitions signed by 10% of eligible voters in the last general election, less than 20% of registered voters. Applicants will also receive 120 days instead of 90 days to collect the required 177,000 signatures.

Smith accused the former federal liberal administration of introducing different legislation that blocked Alberta's ability to produce and export oil, which she said has cost the province billions. She also said she did not want the federal government to intervene on provincial issues.

“We don’t ask for special treatment or handouts,” she said. “We just want to be free to develop and export the incredible resources we have. Free to choose how we provide health care, education and other social services to our people, even if it’s done differently from what Ottawa thinks.”

Smith had met with Carney and said he had “something promising to say about changing the direction of the administration’s anti-resource policy.”

Smith said her administration will appoint a negotiating team to end federal policies that have long irritated the province. She will also chair a “Next Alberta” group, hosting a series of town halls to hear Alberta’s ideas and dissatisfaction.

John Soroski, a political scientist at Meswan University in Edmonton, said despite the province's anger, he was not sure if that would lead to a separation of voting rights.

"These dissatisfactions are serious," he said. "I think the prospect of separation is extremely unlikely.

Quebec, which largely spoken French, held referendums in 1980 and 1995. Both failed.

Sorowski said Smith may follow the leadership of Quebec politicians who used the threat of separation when dealing with the federal government.

"I can't see Smith wanting to be separated, but I think the idea of ​​Alberta with a lot of upset with the province's back pocket is very useful," he said.

Smith said she will work with Carney “sincerely” but “a tangible proof of real change.”