United Conservative Party | MPs reportedly signed petition on Alberta referendum question

At least that’s what Jeff Rath, lawyer for Stay Free Alberta, the group organizing the petition drive, says.

“I know some UCP members in the Legislature have signed the petition,” Rath said Thursday.

“We are confident that others will, because they believe in allowing Albertans to have a say in their future.” No one should be surprised that PCU MLAs are signing the petition. »

The petition, launched earlier this month, calls for a referendum to ask Albertans the following question: “Do you agree that the province of Alberta should cease to be part of Canada and become an independent state?” »

It must collect nearly 178,000 signatures by May. If it succeeds, it will then be up to the Minister of Justice of M^me Smith to forward it to the lieutenant governor so that she can organize a referendum.

Mr. Rath would not name the caucus members who signed the petition or say how many there were, citing confidentiality rules that govern the process.

M’s office^me Smith referred questions regarding the alleged signing of the petition by party MPs to the PCU caucus. The latter recalled that Mr. Rath does not speak on behalf of his members.

“Our United Conservative government is focused on building a strong and sovereign Alberta within a united Canada,” the parliamentary group argued in a statement.

“This is the job we were elected to do, and it’s the job we do every day. »

Voters want to know

Opposition New Democrat leader Naheed Nenshi called on PCU members who signed the petition to come forward publicly.

According to him, voters have the right to know if their elected representatives want Alberta to become a country in its own right.

“If they don’t do it, we’re just going to assume that they all signed the petition,” said Mr. Nenshi in an interview with The Canadian Press.

« (M^me Smith) is now the head of a separatist party and a separatist government. She is clearly incapable of controlling her own MPs,” he added.

Earlier this week, Mr. Nenshi called on all members of the Legislative Assembly to sign a pledge against independence. However, on Thursday, no member of M’s caucus^me Smith had not come forward, according to the Alberta NDP leader.

“Independence does not reduce the cost of living. It does not create hospital beds. It does not improve the education system,” argued Mr. Nenshi.

“What it does is scare away investors and cost us jobs every day. »

Treason

Earlier this week, M^me Smith has rejected calls from other provincial premiers for him to denounce the separatist movement.

These calls grew louder when it was revealed that some independence leaders had met several times with American officials to discuss their project.

British Columbia Premier David Eby said Thursday that leading figures in Alberta’s independence movement, including Mr. Rath, were guilty of “treason.”

“It is completely inappropriate to seek to weaken Canada, to seek help from a foreign power to divide this country,” said Mr. Eby.

Other provincial premiers did not go as far, but several of them called M^me Smith to denounce the independence movement in his province.

The Alberta Prime Minister responded that she would not demonize those in Alberta who have “lost hope” in Canada.

“What we need to do is give hope to Albertans,” she said. We need to show them, not just tell them, not just with words, but with actions, that Canada can work. »

M^me Smith said he expects the American administration to respect Canada’s sovereignty. She plans to raise the issue with her delegate in Washington.

Assumption

Mr Rath confirmed he had attended meetings with US officials, but denied his actions amounted to treason.

As a private citizen, he does not have the authority to enter into agreements on behalf of the province, he noted.

“We have not reached any agreement with the United States regarding anything. We did not ask them for funds. We do not receive funds from them,” he said.

He acknowledged discussing with U.S. officials a $500 billion fund or loan to help Alberta become an independent country, but stressed that was more of a hypothesis than a serious attempt to solicit funds from a foreign government.

The petition on holding a referendum in Alberta is led by Mitch Sylvestre, who is president of a PCU riding association. Large crowds have gathered across the province in recent weeks to sign it.

“I think we are exceeding everyone’s expectations,” boasted Mr. Rath.

“Everyone is really excited and happy to have the opportunity to support Alberta leaving Canada, and we’re going to continue to move forward.” »