A rising tide of separatism is sweeping across Alberta, and in the aftermath of the federal Liberal Party’s fourth consecutive election victory, an organized political party has taken shape with a singularly focused mission-- to make Alberta a constitutional republic independent from the rest of Canada.
The Alberta Republican party, led by former United Conservative Party (UCP) staffer and campaigner Cameron Davies, who publicly broke from the party when he announced his resignation last month, has rallied to become the vanguard of the Alberta independence movement.
On May 9, Davies and the Republican Party were in Cochrane to host a public Q&A session. About 45 people showed up to hear Davis speak at the Cochrane RancheHouse’s Birch Room. Some signed up for memberships, others bought Republic of Alberta merch, some showed up to hear how a potential constitutional republic would work.
“When I saw the cloud of corruption and the willingness of the UCP government to cover-up and shut down voices like [Airdrie-Cochrane MLA Peter Guthrie] that’s when I realized the party was not serving the best interests of not only Albertans, but conservatives,” Davies told the Cochrane Eagle before he went on stage at the RancheHouse.
Davies said the province has always been best served by conservative parties that govern conservatively, and that what Alberta needs now is for conservatives to govern “with the courage of their convictions.”
The new Republican Party leader cited alleged UCP acts of corruption in regards to healthcare procurement contracts and to a growing deficit, both reasons MLA Peter Guthrie had cited in a letter last month detailing his resignation from cabinet last month before being ousted from the UCP caucus.
But unlike Guthrie, who told the Great West Media that an Alberta independence movement “lacks foresight” and “risks triggering economic instability,” Davies believes that the best course of action for Alberta would be for it to become its own independent republic.
“We believe in a binding independence referendum for Alberta,” Davies said. “It’s unfortunate the governing party has decided they are on team Canada. The Alberta Republicans are firmly on team Alberta. We are Alberta first, not Canada first.”
This is a growing sentiment among many politically active conservatives across the province. A recent Angus Reid Institute poll released last week found that 19 per cent of Albertans would definitely vote to leave Canada, while another 17 per cent say they lean in that direction. The poll also found that 65 per cent of UCP would definitely vote to succeed, or lean that way.
Recently, Premier Danielle Smith announced the government plans to lower the number of signatures required for a citizens petition, which could be used to trigger an independence referendum, from 600,000 to 177,000.
That move by Smith, which could be seen as an appeasement to the majority of party supporters who desire independence, has done nothing to sway Davies.
“The UCP can’t have it both ways,” he said. “They can’t claim to be on Team Canada and let Team Alberta have a voice. They need to pick a lane.”
He added that the lowering of required signatories is an attempt to pander to both halves of the UCP base by the Premier.
“What we have to be careful of is referendums that turn into nothing more than recommendations,” Davies said. “That’s why the Republican Party of Alberta is pushing for the political will to make sure there is a binding independence referendum that the existing government must act on.”
Many of those present at the RancheHouse for the Republican Party gathering were supportive of what Davies had to say, nodding along and often verbally agreeing with his stance on Alberta independence. Davies asked the crowd to give him a show of hands if anyone believed Alberta should remain a part of Canada. Not a single hand went up.
One man named Bob (who did not want to give his last name), wore a blue Republic of Alberta hat, and said he and all of his neighbours felt that Alberta has been treated poorly by Ottawa for years.
“We’re supposed to be a nation," said Bob. "We don’t want to leave Canada, Canada left us. You can’t treat us like dirt, like an abused wife and then say, ‘You need to be happy,’ it’s not going to work.”
Another man, Ehren Redman, said that he believes Ottawa has been "screwing" with Alberta ever since the 1960s, and that he’s had enough and wants out. “The way [confederation] is, it has to change drastically. Right now we don’t matter, period. The government is decided in Ontario and Quebec … If [things] don't change, I don’t want to stay.”
A party official said the Republicans have given out 20,000 free memberships, and Davies told the crowd that the goal is to field a full 89 member slate of candidates for the next provincial election. The Party is organizing a “Independence Town Hall” in Red Deer at the end of the month, where the direction of the party will become clearer.
Davies did not confirm or deny that he would run as the party’s candidate for the Olds-Didsbury-Three Hills byelection, which is expected to be called at some point soon, to replace outgoing Legislative speaker Nathan Cooper, who has represented the riding since 2015.
With its eyes set on entering Alberta politics in an active way, Davies does not want the primary goal of the Alberta Republican Party to be muddled in any way.
“Our mission is crystal clear; Alberta independence and an independent Alberta constitutional republic,” he said.
