Why does Russia care about Alberta separatism

While I am on the subject of disinformation and foreign political interference, the Alberta separatism movement, such as it is, is a prime target for foreign propaganda and interference. There's already plenty of home-grown disinformation and misinformation out there; a bit more from outside the country probably wouldn't get noticed. But it seems there's more of it going on than we realize.

While monitoring Russian disinformation campaigns targeting Ukraine and support for Ukraine in Canada, researchers were surprised to see that a lot of the mendacity emanating from Russian propaganda outlets like the Pravda Network, CopyCop, Storm 1516 and the Internet Research Agency was specifically targeting Alberta separatism. Not only are there large numbers of social media posts - hundreds of thousands - but complete websites (like AlbertaSeparatist.com) that purport to be grass-roots campaigns by aggrieved Albertans, but are actually being generated by Russian propaganda farms. AI-generated "slopaganda" is also being used to pollute the information environment, intensify grievances, and confuse legitimate debate with foreign manipulation.

I mean, you know this stuff happens. But, when you stop and think about it, what are they really trying to achieve? What is it to Russia whether Alberta separates or not? How does it merit such a concerted effort to them? Don't they have bigger fish to fry?

I can understand that the Trump administration and the MAGA mob might have a vested interest in Alberta separation (and they are indeed attempting to influence the vote, albeit mainly thought more mainstream, and less illegal, conduits). But Russia?

DisinfoWatch says that Russian interference in the Alberta separatism debate "appears doctrinal, operational and sustained", all part of the Russian government's long history of exploiting divisive issues in Western democracies in general. Division for the sake of division, as far as I can tell. There is much more detail on DisinfoWatch's website. The Global Centre for Democratic Resilience and the Centre for Artificial Intelligence, Data and Conflict at the University of Regina both concur.

I guess I understand, in general terms at least, that anything that weakens the West strengthens the East. It just surprises me that the hawks in the Kremlin see this as an issue deserving of not-insignificant funds. And it's such a bore that we have to spend time and money guarding against these digital incursions.

All of this, and the revelations that a separatist group gave unauthorized access to the province's list electors to hundreds of people (potentially including foreign actors), has cast a pall over the whole enterprise and put the legitimacy of its outcome in doubt.

UPDATE

Given all of the above, it seems particularly ironic that Alberta's Minster for Public Safety and Emergency Services should choose his week to announce that an RCMP report has somehow managed to find that there is no evidence that Alberta's separatist movement has been subject to foreign interference.