PJ The Belt - July 20, 2025


Alberta Makes Huge STATEHOOD Announcement？ - Asking People About SEPARATION From Canada @jaybortnik


Episode Stats


Length

14 minutes

Words per minute

172.09863

Word count

2,473

Sentence count

207

Harmful content

Misogyny

2

sentences flagged

Toxicity

3

sentences flagged

Hate speech

3

sentences flagged


Summary

Summaries generated with gmurro/bart-large-finetuned-filtered-spotify-podcast-summ .

In this episode, PJ and his co-host try to find the missing Sasquatch and find out what happened to him. They also discuss the possibility of Alberta becoming independent from Canada and join the United States as the 51st state.

Transcript

Transcript generated with Whisper (turbo).
Misogyny classifications generated with MilaNLProc/bert-base-uncased-ear-misogyny .
Toxicity classifications generated with s-nlp/roberta_toxicity_classifier .
Hate speech classifications generated with facebook/roberta-hate-speech-dynabench-r4-target .
00:00:00.000 Hey everybody, PJ. In today's video we're going to be doing something a little bit different.
00:00:05.100 We're going to go in the woods behind me and we're going to try to find Sasquatch once and for all.
00:00:09.640 I got a tip that he was last seen right here in the woods in Central Alberta. No, but seriously,
00:00:15.760 we're going to be watching some videos from a creator that I recently found on YouTube. His
00:00:22.300 name is Jay Bortnick. Stumbled upon his channel recently and he's been doing some great work
00:00:28.020 asking everyday Albertans what they think about Alberta independence and the possibility of Alberta
00:00:33.860 separating from Canada within the next year. Pretty sure he's on board with Alberta becoming
00:00:39.940 independent but furthermore also joining the United States as the 51st state. You know, I appreciate
00:00:46.620 that he meets regular Albertans where they are. He gets out there, parking lots, has conversations,
00:00:52.380 gets a feel for where they're at and where they're coming from and it's genuine.
00:00:58.640 Anyways, the rain's getting a little bit crazy out here, guys, so let's get to the video.
00:01:02.860 Very quickly though, if you enjoy these videos, please do me a solid and subscribe.
00:01:07.340 It's free and you can always unsubscribe later if you change your mind.
00:01:10.960 Thank you and back to the video.
00:01:12.680 All right, here we go. And I noticed he acknowledges our Lord and Savior at the beginning there,
00:01:18.800 so I appreciate that.
00:01:21.860 There's pizza in the air. We're at Italian Center shop here in South Calgary. We interviewed nine
00:01:27.780 people. If you run down our comments, why don't you talk to young people? You should watch it right 0.92
00:01:32.320 to the end because I even get interviewed. Do you want to separate from Canada? And I might even put
00:01:37.780 that on a different video. Let's get on with it. Alberta separation, yes, no, or undecided?
00:01:42.780 No. No? How about you?
00:01:46.220 This Alberta wants to separate. 0.99
00:01:48.760 Oh, like from Canada?
00:01:49.980 From Canada.
00:01:51.200 No? So two no's. I'm a hard Canadian. I mean, I'm Albertan, but I'm also like significantly Canadian.
00:01:57.220 Yeah.
00:01:57.820 Okay. What would cause you to say yes? What's your breaking point?
00:02:01.880 Ottawa forgets about us a lot of time. We kind of do our own thing. I mean, we make a lot of money here,
00:02:06.600 but at the same time, like if they forgot about us more, that would push me to say maybe separate.
00:02:12.780 But at this point, I think we're doing a, I like Carney, so I think we're doing a good job.
00:02:17.180 Cool. What do you like about Carney? Just because you brought it up.
00:02:21.380 I like how he's not, he's a numbers guy and not as much, like he's still a politician.
00:02:27.340 And the Trump endorsement didn't hurt him? 1.00
00:02:30.580 I didn't like it, but I think he was, Trump's an idiot. 1.00
00:02:34.520 How much more can they forget about Alberta? I mean, do we need to send more billions every year to Quebec? 1.00
00:02:42.780 Do we need to have even less MPs in the House of Commons?
00:02:46.980 Do we need to have even less senators in the Senate? 1.00
00:02:49.700 What else do they have to do for you to get there?
00:02:52.700 No, but I appreciate that he's speaking to young people.
00:02:55.580 That is definitely a portion of our population that we need to reach as much as possible.
00:03:00.800 So the Alberta Prosperity Project in the last event that I attended, they said that they're going to try to, they're going to try to focus more on, on reaching out to, to the youth.
00:03:12.800 Because education, when it comes to Alberta independence, is critically important.
00:03:18.000 A lot of people are not aware of this, especially those who are undecided.
00:03:23.600 And knowledge is power.
00:03:25.200 The more you let people know why Alberta would be better off becoming independent from Canada, the more support this cause will gain.
00:03:34.160 Because at the end of the day, the numbers are on our side.
00:03:37.120 And also, historically, Alberta has been trying to get a fair deal in this federation for decades, decades on end.
00:03:45.460 And many people don't know that.
00:03:47.240 They think it's just the last 10 years.
00:03:49.000 So, Alberta separation, yes, no, or undecided?
00:03:52.780 Probably lean towards yes.
00:03:54.540 Okay.
00:03:55.080 What would cause you to say full-on yes?
00:03:57.180 I work in the oil and gas industry and how the taxes and everything happens and a lot of the difficulties that we have in our industry, it creates a lot of roadblocks.
00:04:06.000 And I promised only two questions, but since you said yes, what form of separation are you more leaning towards?
00:04:13.540 Honestly, I think the Western problems, like with Saskatchewan, I mean, Manitoba joined, that would be great too.
00:04:18.220 And I know a lot, there's probably a big support in Northern B.C.
00:04:21.380 He's talking about a Western Union where Saskatchewan, Alberta, Manitoba, and some parts of Northern British Columbia get together and create some sort of Western Republic.
00:04:30.300 A lot of people who support independence are pushing for that too, because that would be a hell of a country.
00:04:36.020 We would have access to the coast with Northern B.C. and Saskatchewan and Alberta, economic powerhouses.
00:04:43.200 We'd also have access to the ocean through the Hudson's Bay, just north of Manitoba.
00:04:50.520 Alberta separation, yes, no, or undecided?
00:04:54.560 More, I think, yes.
00:04:56.240 More, yes? Okay.
00:04:57.760 And what caused you to say yes?
00:04:59.340 Because my husband is real Alberta, a real Bulgarian, and he's a little bit tired, as we're in both of us, it's great. 0.95
00:05:10.200 This whole situation, what is going on now with the government?
00:05:14.340 Yeah, it's not so good.
00:05:16.500 Yeah.
00:05:17.120 Is it fine?
00:05:18.100 Is it fine?
00:05:18.700 I appreciate those Polish, Ukrainian, Eastern European people.
00:05:25.220 I gather by her accent that she's probably Polish.
00:05:29.060 Every time I meet Polish people, they're a no-nonsense, straightforward, straight-shooter type of people. 1.00
00:05:37.500 And they also come from a world where they've seen what communism looks like, the dangers of centralized socialism.
00:05:45.880 So they know what's happening to Canada, and that Alberta would definitely be wise to separate from that system.
00:05:53.820 Every time I talk to those people, they're straight shooters.
00:05:57.460 God bless them.
00:05:58.500 Alberta separation, yes, no, or undecided?
00:06:01.700 Every election, I'm five years older, and nothing changes.
00:06:06.000 If the separation is ultimately the answer to it, then yes.
00:06:10.380 When you make the money for everybody, you should have a little more say.
00:06:13.940 I would say independence from the federal government's power.
00:06:17.560 Now, everybody's coming here, and everybody's leeching off of the federal money, and provincial money, and where is the future for our children, I don't know.
00:06:28.820 Yeah.
00:06:29.480 I'm concerned.
00:06:30.420 I have four kids.
00:06:31.720 I am welcoming everybody, just like I was welcomed, but I came here legally, and I had to work.
00:06:36.640 I did not have any free money for 37 years down here.
00:06:40.780 We should be a little more strict about this immigration policies, where I think that's one, and the other one is federal government.
00:06:49.600 It's like equalization payments.
00:06:51.620 They're taking so much money.
00:06:53.100 Alberta separation, yes, no, or undecided?
00:06:56.140 I'm no.
00:06:57.500 Is there anything, or what would cause you to say yes?
00:07:00.180 I don't know the history of the province that well, because maybe they should teach up more in school, right?
00:07:03.760 Yeah.
00:07:04.240 But from what I understand, the other provinces do take advantage of Alberta's oil to a certain extent.
00:07:10.060 So I get why some people want to separate.
00:07:12.020 But in the end of the day, I feel like Canada should be more united, which is why I don't want to separate personally.
00:07:18.360 But I do understand that as Albertans, maybe we should fight back on some of those laws that take advantage of us.
00:07:25.640 But I'm not sure full-blown separation is the way to go.
00:07:28.360 See, that young man is the perfect example of what I'm talking about, that education is going to make the biggest difference when it comes to this push for Alberta independence.
00:07:37.480 He said at the beginning, he's not for Alberta separating from the rest of Canada, that there should be some unity and all of that, but that he understands that Alberta has been taken advantage of in the form of equalization and our oil industry being abused, etc., etc.
00:07:55.440 Then he said that Alberta should try to fight and try to improve things from within.
00:08:01.720 He would be served well from understanding that reforming Canada from inside to give the West more power, including Alberta, Saskatchewan, has been tried for decades to no avail.
00:08:17.000 That would definitely sway him, I believe.
00:08:19.700 Understanding that Alberta has tried it for so many years, and the East just doesn't want to improve things for Alberta, because the system that is currently in place benefits them the most.
00:08:33.980 So why would they ever change it?
00:08:36.440 And the system is also designed so that it cannot be changed without their approval.
00:08:42.040 So it's literally a vicious circle.
00:08:44.540 Separation. Yes, no, we're undecided.
00:08:48.180 I think we're undecided.
00:08:49.460 You're undecided.
00:08:50.220 You're undecided. What would cause you to say yes?
00:08:52.240 More federal income tax.
00:08:53.740 Alberta.
00:08:56.260 Sorry, man. First one today.
00:08:58.500 Alberta separation. Yes, no, or undecided?
00:09:02.080 No.
00:09:02.560 No? And what would cause you to say yes?
00:09:04.380 Probably nothing.
00:09:05.060 Probably nothing at all?
00:09:06.100 Yes.
00:09:06.600 So you'd have no breaking point whatsoever?
00:09:08.660 Nothing I can think of.
00:09:10.000 Okay.
00:09:10.480 Alberta separation. Yes, no, or undecided?
00:09:13.540 Oh, undecided.
00:09:15.040 Undecided?
00:09:15.640 What would cause you to say yes?
00:09:18.100 I don't know.
00:09:19.720 I don't know enough about it, you guys.
00:09:21.420 Okay.
00:09:21.880 Alberta separation. Yes, no, or undecided?
00:09:24.600 No, I love being a part of Canada.
00:09:26.620 What would cause you to say yes?
00:09:28.620 What is your breaking point?
00:09:29.880 I guess if we absolutely had no choice in anything.
00:09:33.340 Which is kind of close to where I feel we're at.
00:09:36.180 That's where we're at.
00:09:37.100 I cheater on that a little bit.
00:09:39.020 Yes, kind of on the cheater totter there.
00:09:41.240 Yeah, I feel like we would be so much better off if we did have our own, if we were separated, honestly.
00:09:45.920 But, you know, just for the sake of the country, I'd rather be a part of you.
00:09:49.540 Well, and that's the thing.
00:09:51.440 Like I've said before, there's a lot of Albertans who are undecided.
00:09:58.260 There's a solid 35%, 40%, sometimes even higher.
00:10:01.640 It's been as high as 45% of people who are all in for independence.
00:10:06.300 People like myself who believe Alberta would be much better off becoming an independent nation or possibly joining the United States as the 51st state or a territory.
00:10:14.440 Because Canada has not been fair to Alberta for many decades.
00:10:20.580 Some argue for over a century.
00:10:23.560 But then there's a good third of the population who are undecided.
00:10:29.080 This gentleman right here, this young man, for example, he said no at the beginning.
00:10:33.840 And he explained why.
00:10:34.880 He said it's for the sake of the country, probably mostly nostalgia and feeling solidarity for the rest of the country.
00:10:40.660 But then he said that he understands that Alberta would absolutely do better and be better off on its own.
00:10:48.800 He also says that Alberta has been abused and he recognizes that.
00:10:53.160 So he doesn't need much to be put over the line and go from undecided, which is really what he is.
00:10:58.820 He said no, but he's basically undecided.
00:11:01.080 He's hesitant.
00:11:02.820 He just needs to be educated and he needs to understand that there's many of us who get where he's coming from.
00:11:10.240 And that there's that nostalgia and that we, you know, what will happen in Canada, this and that.
00:11:15.620 But even if you wanted to just reform Canada, everything else has been tried.
00:11:21.920 Albertans have tried to fix Canada to make it more fair for the West from within for decades.
00:11:27.080 And it just doesn't work.
00:11:28.600 So even if you want to reform Canada, you want to support independence because that is the one thing that hasn't been tried.
00:11:35.200 And it's the one thing that has the most potential for actually getting the West a fair deal.
00:11:41.160 I personally, I think that ship has sailed.
00:11:44.360 I think Alberta should go on its own, become independent and later on explore whether he wants to become a part of the United States or stay independent.
00:11:53.060 And then you have the other third or 20 to 25, maybe 30 percent who will never be on board for a multitude of reasons, including them being a part of the federal government, them coming from other provinces and seeing it as, you know, a traitor or whatever, because they're from other provinces.
00:12:12.740 And they just moved to Alberta for the benefits, the benefit of living here, the better economy.
00:12:18.120 They are part of unions, they're liberals and, you know, whole thing.
00:12:22.780 Some of them just that's just how they view it.
00:12:25.480 And you're never going to change their mind.
00:12:27.340 I mean, I choose Alberta.
00:12:28.820 I feel like we produce quite a bit.
00:12:30.240 We give a lot and we get nothing.
00:12:32.140 But yeah, if we could, you know, work a way where we could all be together.
00:12:35.520 Yeah, that'd be ideal.
00:12:37.080 Yes, no or undecided.
00:12:40.040 Undecided.
00:12:40.760 Okay.
00:12:41.040 Undecided.
00:12:42.740 I don't know.
00:12:43.440 Some kind of undecided.
00:12:44.900 Okay.
00:12:45.640 What would cause you to say yes?
00:12:47.520 There'd have to be some promises from, like, the rest of Canada for what the relationship would look like after separation as well as with the States.
00:12:55.400 Okay.
00:12:56.120 Yeah, what would it look like with the States and how would our relationship speak?
00:12:59.440 Yeah, exactly.
00:12:59.960 Yeah.
00:13:00.440 So we wouldn't want to enter into something where we would be isolated.
00:13:03.180 Isolated for landlocked.
00:13:04.620 Okay.
00:13:05.340 So, key takeaways from this video.
00:13:07.980 So, there's a big chunk of undecided Albertans, which is great news in my opinion.
00:13:14.820 Because, of course, there's my group, which is those of us who understand that Alberta independence is the only solution at this point.
00:13:25.220 Alberta getting the hell out of Canada is the way to go.
00:13:27.740 Then there's the group that you'll never convince.
00:13:30.740 It's probably a third of the population.
00:13:32.480 They don't want to be convinced.
00:13:34.100 They don't care about the facts.
00:13:35.980 They simply don't want to listen.
00:13:38.880 But then you have a big portion in the middle who are still willing to listen.
00:13:44.240 And those are the people we need to reach.
00:13:46.360 Those are the people we need to talk to.
00:13:47.920 And Jay Bortnick, I appreciate what you're doing, man.
00:13:51.700 Might have to get out there myself, talk to some people, try to, you know, educate as many people as possible on the benefits of Alberta independence.
00:14:00.220 Again, I appreciate what you're doing, man.
00:14:02.360 Keep it up.
00:14:03.100 All right.
00:14:03.480 Thanks for watching.
00:14:04.620 Thank you for subscribing.
00:14:06.060 Special thanks to those of you who have donated to this project.
00:14:09.060 It is much appreciated.
00:14:10.620 And it helps me continue making videos.
00:14:12.860 See you on the next one.
00:14:14.120 Peace.
00:14:17.920 Peace.
00:14:19.960 Peace.
00:14:21.100 Peace.