Yeah, you could be right. My point is this scenario is historically common around the world, without external influence. It's almost always states/regions with lots of rich natural resources. There are some exceptions like Singapore, but the Alberta situation can be compared to groups like from within Texas or Western Australia. Lots of oil, minerals, etc. and wanting to seceed to benefit from it, rather than contribute to the State.

It's also common for those kooky people to be pro-mining or drilling and these people often have kooky ideas regarding political conflicts, the environment, and social welfare if there's a pathway to economically benefit from it.

Of course, it would be a geopolitical disaster for both the seceedee and their current nation, so no one ever listens. It's the premise behind "divide and conquer" afterall—regardless of whether internally voluntary or externally manipulated—so it won't work out well.