This was a bone that Smith threw to the extreme right (by Canadian standards) wing of her base. Even Quebec, with its stronger claim to nationhood, found it hard to disentangle itself from Canada, so it is unlikely that Alberta will succeed. But, it will still pay a price like Quebec did; businesses and people do not like secession politics, and the infighting is likely to be bruising. Smith's conservative party, as well as the federal conservatives (also led by a unpopular Albertan, may also pay a price (arguably they have already did with defections of their MPs to the Liberal party). So, all in all, this looks like another unforced error by the Canadian right.