Rising separatism in Alberta, Quebec and beyond poses a serious challenge to Canada’s national unity in the coming year.

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In 2026, Canada’s national unity will be put to the test in more ways than one. We have separatist movements gaining steam in Alberta, Saskatchewan and Quebec and a separatist agitator running the provincial government in British Columbia.

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As Norman Spector, a top advisor to former B.C. premier Bill Bennett and chief of staff to former prime minister Brian Mulroney says on a regular basis, a Canadian PM has no more important job than keeping this huge country together.

“And I can’t recall any of them having as great a challenge as Mark Carney — with both Alberta and QC possibly heading to referenda and never say never Trump watching and perhaps waiting,” Spector said Tuesday.

He’s right, and while the domestic issues loom large, the prospect of Trump trying to benefit from national disunity shouldn’t be dismissed.

Quebec will hold a provincial election by October that looks sure to be won by the Parti Quebecois.