Economic anxieties, western representation on minds of separation petition signers in Alberta

Connor Hogg visited a canvassing event for the Alberta separation petition on Friday where participants say they're tired of federal overreach.

Canvassing is well underway for the group petitioning for a referendum question on the separation of Alberta from Canada.

Albertans who lined up an hour early near Wetaskiwin on Friday voiced political, personal and financial concerns prompting them to put their name on the list.

“We need our freedom. We need to be able to make our own decisions,” said Chari Laveck, who was in line outside the Loneridge Community Hall Friday afternoon.

“If we’re independent, we can run our own lives, and that’s worth a million dollars. We’ll be able to have cheaper income tax, everything. It’s the only way.”

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Others echoed frustration with federal government overreach, lack of export autonomy especially in the way of oil and concern for the financial stability of future generations.

Stay Free Alberta, headed by Mitch Sylvestre, is an Alberta independence movement that needs to collect at least 177,732 signatures before May 2. The petition asks, “Do you agree that the province of Alberta should cease to be a part of Canada to become an independent state?”

The question was approved by Elections Alberta at the beginning of January. Canvassing began a few days later, and Sylvestre says participation indicates, to him, that meeting the signature threshold is “in the bag.”

“People are determined. People are fed up with what they feel is happening in Ottawa and how they’re treating Alberta. And they seem to have chosen the fact that this is their only option,” he told CTV News Edmonton on Friday.

“We want a smaller government. We want the government out of our world. We basically want the government to let us run our businesses, run our lives, and stop interfering with it.”

Another major talking point Friday afternoon was the news that Prime Minister Mark Carney had signed a memorandum of understanding with China on Thursday with the intention of increasing exports of oil, natural gas and clean energy.

“Every time we scroll through our news feed or look at the news every day, we have a new reason for Alberta to leave Canada today,” said Jeff Rath, a member of the Alberta Prosperity Project slated to speak to separatists in Wetaskiwin.

He and people signing the petition on Friday said the move points to the beginning of a “New World Order” Albertans want no part in.

“Carney is the best salesman for independence we have.”

Rath said he expects “one of the strongest messages ever sent” to the provincial government by the time canvassing is complete as he expects to surpass the signatures needed.

Stay Free Alberta is separate from the Alberta Prosperity Project, which exists as an education society that has been “put to the side temporarily” as canvassing moves forward, Sylvestre said.

Another canvassing event will be held at Rundle Park in Edmonton on Saturday. More are planned across Alberta in the coming weeks.

With files from CTV News Edmonton’s Connor Hogg