Alberta Bound (Paul Brandt song)

"Alberta Bound" received renewed attention in January 2026, after Brandt posted an image on social media platform X (formerly known as Twitter) on January 24, 2026, of him walking across a crosswalk with the lyrics to the song overlaid across the entire photo. The lyrics "Yeah, I've got independence in my veins" from the second verse were written in a more visible colour in the photo.^[6][7] The post came amidst a push for Alberta separatism by the "Alberta Prosperity Project", which is gathering signatures in an attempt to stage an independence referendum in the province.^[8] This post was viewed by some as a potential endorsement of the Alberta separatist movement by Brandt.^[9][10]

Brandt was later pressed by reporters to clarify his stance on the Alberta sepatism issue on January 26, 2026, at a press conference where he was speaking in his capacity as co-chair of the Alberta Centre to End Trafficking in Persons.^[11] Brandt refused to clarify his remarks, stating "It’s not up to me to make political statements to try and get people to move one way or another. I go out and live by example and I do the work that I do" and "You’re not going to get a yes or no."^[12] On the same day, Brandt issued a statement on X, where he stated "I wish that people cared as much about the fight against child sexual exploitation in our country as they do about a song lyric that was written in 2004," highlighting his commitment to fighting human trafficking across Canada.^[13]