The Alberta Prosperity Project (APP) made stops in Jarvie on May 29 and Boyle on May 30, where about 150 members of the public learned what separating from Canada would mean for Alberta. The meetings followed an APP stop in Athabasca on May 26.
Speakers Dennis Modry and Mitch Sylvestre did not address in their public remarks what would happen if a referendum on separation did not pass. According to Modry, who strongly believes that both the petition and referendum will sufficiently pass, they would continue to spread their message.
“There will be enough ammunition and another four or five years in terms of what the federal government does to Alberta.” he said, referring to how Albertans will have to make a decision on whether they can stand the level of taxes and lifestyle choices made by the federal government.
Modry pointed to Quebec, which has had two referendum votes to distance themselves from Canada. The first was in 1980, with only 40 per cent of voters for the movement. Then again, in 1995, 50.58 per cent voted to stay.
The Quebec movement is something that is still strong even 30 years later. Modry says.
Sylvestre said even without separation the group would advocate for "pillars" of provincial sovereignty such as the Alberta Pension plan and provincial control of immigration. “Those things are all very important because those things are stuff that we can continue … as far as I’m personally concerned, the pillars are the key.”
But what happens if it does pass?
The APP's website details the group's proposed ‘road map to sovereignty’. It indicates that they will establish a new pension plan, become financially independent by “build[ing] a robust self-sufficient economy, reducing reliance on federal transfers and subsidies”, create an “Alberta-controlled police force”, retain full authority over the province’s natural resources and assert immigration control.
A full plan has not been released to the public that outlines exactly how the APP and provincial government would guide the province through sovereignty specifically when it came to economics, military and governance.
Sylvestre said that a business plan is currently being built with it being “available to the world in about 10 days.” as said on May 30. They are building a portfolio that shows “we’re going to include how much we’re going to take away, how much we’re paying in tax to the federal government.” They also said that there will be a flat 10 per cent tax rate for individuals and businesses.
Modry indicated a sovereign Alberta would need to adopt the U.S, dollar as its currency. “There would be a necessity for that. In terms of trade, and not just trade with the US, but trading around the world right now. It's the strongest currency in the world.”
As for the political landscape in a sovereign Alberta, Sylvestre highlighted that there will be no parties involved at all. The structure would be a direct democracy similar to that of Switzerland's where citizens over the age of 18 can vote in elections and on specific issues.
The government and infrastructure would remain unchanged but in regards to the kind of political system, a new constitution and a bill of rights, Sylvestre said. “All those things are built. All those things are done.
“The people that are against this, if this goes in our way, well, very soon, see that they’re going to like this."
"People have to take responsibility and look into this. And so they can make their own minds up," said Modry.
