Support for separation loud at weekend Edmonton rally
EDMONTON – Chants of “The west wants out!” and “Alberta!” rained down from a crowd of about 750 supporters prior to the start of a standing-room only rally during the weekend to promote Western Canada separation.
The rally held at a local dancehall during the weekend was the first of its kind in Edmonton hosted by Wexit Alberta, a group striving to become a registered political party in the province to advance the separation agenda.
The movement amplified following the recent federal election where no representatives from the governing Liberal Party were elected in either Alberta or Saskatchewan. The separation supporters in attendance passionately booed the rally’s opening question “How’s everybody doing since the election?”
The crowd, many sporting Wexit gear with sayings such as “Make Alberta Great Again,” resoundingly said they felt isolated and ignored on the national stage.
“I’m done. You know, I’m just done,” Kathy Flett, Wexit Canada industrial relations officer, said to the crowd Saturday at the start of the rally. “It’s kind of like a divorce, there are some sad moments to this … but I think we have nowhere to go but up.”
Several speakers took to the stage to voice their support for the province’s main industries and sharing the neglect they’ve felt from the East, as Elections Alberta provincial party petition forms flowed through the audience. The group requires at least 7,868 signatures to become an official party.
Businessman Craig Chandler shared his drive to support the local agriculture and farming industries through the program Alberta Verified, which puts logos on locally-sourced products to let consumers know how they can support the province.
“We’re going to be Alberta first … this is nothing but positive,” Chandler said to the cheering crowd.
The Edmonton rally, the third edition held across the province, follows a five-page open letter from Wexit founder Peter Downing to Premier Jason Kenney voicing his frustration.
Throughout the Wexit rise, Kenney has said land-locking Alberta through separation isn’t the answer. But Kenney said he understands the frustrations and will be creating an expert panel to listen to Albertans’ concerns.
But this isn’t enough for Downing, calling on Kenney to hold a referendum on separation.
“With respect Mr. Kenney, your proposal for a listening tour followed by a symbolic referendum on equalization simply does not cut it,” the letter reads. “We will not allow Ottawa and Eastern Canada to phase us out. We will separate from Canada. We will survive and we will thrive.”