Lich working with rebranded western separation party
So how does one get to be part of a political movement that wants Alberta to leave Canada? In the case of Tamara Lich, it all has to do with economics and being ignored by the federal government.
Lich is the communications director as well as volunteer coordinator for the Maverick Party. She also helps with candidate recruitment and memberships. Her work experience, interests and skills such as logistics, administration, networking, gathering information and databasing have helped her along.
She is a firm believer in the fledgling movement and party. It all has to do with the lack of balance in Canada.
“By the time Alberta hits the polls in every federal election the outcome has already been decided by eastern voters,” explains Lich. “While we are all Canadians we have different needs and lifestyles out here. For example, gun legislation for the city of Toronto must differ from that of rural Alberta. The west needs a party that is willing to fight for what is best for their interests and their people without having to pander for the eastern vote.
“The Maverick Party is not running against a particular party or politician; instead we are running against a broken system. Our goal is to unite westerners in this common goal; Constitutional Reform or, failing that, Independence.”
Her rise along the Maverick (formerly Wexit Canada) administration has been relatively quick. She and her husband were invited by former Wexit Alberta leader, Peter Downing to rally in Calgary in June, 2019 and became involved. She was officially interested and this started her involvement.
“Upon the Trudeau Liberals winning a majority in the fall of 2019 I became the regional coordinator for Wexit for the southeastern area of Alberta, organizing speaking events and rallies for the movement,” recalls Lich. “This spring I was invited to sit on both interim boards for Wexit Alberta, now the Wildrose Independence Party of Alberta and Wexit Canada… now the Maverick Party until my husband and I relocated to Manitoba. At that point I stepped aside from my role in the provincial party and focused my efforts on the Maverick Party.”
Jay Hill took on the leadership duties following the resignation of Downing. She says Hill’s “passion and drive to see fair treatment for the west and the bright future we could have here is inspiring”.
Lich has a few interests, including music. She was a singer with a popular band out of Medicine Hat before job loss for her and her husband forcing them to leave the Gas City to Manitoba.
Her recent love of politics and interest in getting involved in issues has led her to become a board member of the Maverick Party, a federal political party which is known for its advocating for the western four prairie provinces to leave Canadian confederation.
“Western Canada has been at the mercy of the east since the inception of confederation. All current federal parties must cater to eastern interests in order to obtain and stay in power,” explains Lich. “Even looking back over the ten years that the Harper government was in power it’s difficult to find anything he accomplished that was of real benefit to the west. My prime motive for getting involved however, was due to my frustration with the federal government’s unfair treatment of Albertans and the west in general such as Bill C-48 and Bill C-69. The goals of the people involved, their passion for fairness and their genuine desire to help western Canadians were very much aligned with my own.”
Lich became involved in provincial politics during the 2019 Alberta Provincial election and assisted Drew Barnes on his successful campaign in the Medicine Hat riding acting as volunteer coordinator and door knocker, again, getting involved after becoming increasingly frustrated with the Rachel Notley governing NDP. Federally, her interest was piqued a few years ago.
“I have loosely followed Canadian politics for a number of years and much more intensely following the 2015 federal election,” explain Lich. “After witnessing the disastrous policies implemented by the federal government directly affecting the industries in Alberta and the west I decided to get more involved.”
Lich said she became an advocate for the oil and gas industry, attending rallies, organizing events and assisted in organizing the local convoy in December of 2018.
“…While working in an administrative position for an oilfield services company I witnessed many good people suffering, losing their jobs, on the brink of losing their homes and, in some cases, their families due to the unnecessary actions taken to shut down our energy sector. Countless times, men and women would bring me their resume with tears in their eyes telling me their stories; all of them heartbreaking. Our energy sector is one of the most efficient and environmentally friendly in the world yet we are continually punished by a government pushing a virtue signalling agenda while they continue to purchase oil from nations with less than stellar human rights records.”
Lich says the Maverick executive members are looking at hosting virtual town halls and small gatherings featuring Interim Leader Jay Hill, Deputy Leader Allan Kerpan and the Executive Board President Travis Olson. They are also on social media platforms to include LinkedIn, Twitter (@MaverickParty1), Parleur and Instagram.