Political scientists say the proposals that have been submitted by members and constituency associations of the United Conservative Party (UCP), calling on the party to add independence to its official list of principles, are “inevitable.”The proposal is a long time coming, said Barry Cooper, a professor of political science at the University of Calgary, in an interview with the Western Standard on Friday.“I think it was probably inevitable. There is a fairly widespread desire among Albertans to have a referendum, and using the institution of this current government of Alberta, but certainly the major political party in the province, as a vehicle to discuss that, was just a question of when,” Cooper said.Though the topic — an independent Alberta — has been talked about in smaller venues and meetings in the past, it has become an important political topic.Cooper says the hands of the Premier Danielle Smith, would become stronger if the proposals are approved. On the other hand, it would lead to criticism by the government of Canada and the media..EXCLUSIVE: UCP members propose party vote on Alberta independence.He said the UCP will have to handle the issue carefully, focusing on the interests of Alberta to avoid backlash from the opposition party, which is the Alberta New Democratic Party (NDP).When asked about whether adding such a policy to the UCP’s statement of principles would affect the relationship with the Conservative Party of Canada (CPC), Cooper said: “The position of (Conservative Leader) Pierre Poilievre was that he would delay the inevitable, which is the confrontation between Alberta and Canada.”Prime Minister Mark Carney has accelerated the calls for independence, according to Cooper.“And so, this is the response of Alberta,” he said.Talks about an independent Alberta wouldn’t have happened had Poilievre been elected in the last federal election in April..Economist says Alberta-Ontario pipeline requires other provinces, federal approval.“But, it would just postpone the confrontation, that's all,” he said.Meanwhile, Michael Wagner, an independent researcher and writer with a PhD in political science from the University of Alberta, says the CPC and UCP might have a “difficult” road ahead.“It would make the relationship more difficult, and especially with Poilievre, who’s going to have a seat here in Alberta,” Wagner said.“It's hard for me to predict not being part of the party, but I think the party establishment will try and block it. But I do think there is widespread support among the grassroots of the party.".Sources inside the UCP party told the Western Standard Thursday that about 5% of the resolution proposals the party has received this year suggest adding independence to its statement of principles.The resolutions are currently being vetted by the central party governance committee and its lawyers. The vetted and accepted resolutions will be referred to the party's central council by the end of July.“So, the provincial council, probably by the very latest the first or second week of August, will have those resolutions that are calling for independence in front of them to make a decision,” said a source.The resolution could be discussed and voted on at a Special General Meeting (SGM) instead of the annual meeting, which is scheduled to take place in November. The SGM could be held online via Zoom or in person, according to the sources.Following the election of Carney on April 28, Smith tabled Bill 54, making it easier for Albertans to organize an independence referendum. It comes as some Albertans argue the Liberals will continue the anti-Alberta policies of Justin Trudeau.Bill 54 amended the Citizen Initiative Act to lower the signature threshold for triggering a referendum from 20% to 10% of eligible voters, approximately 177,000 signatures. It allows citizens to petition for referendums on issues like independence, potentially enabling a 2026 vote if sufficient signatures are collected.Conservative Battle River-Crowfoot MP Damien Kurek resigned in June, opening the door for Poilievre to run in a by-election and retake his place as Conservative leader in the House of Commons after losing his seat in Carleton to Liberal rival Bruce Fanjoy. The by-election is scheduled to take place on August 18.The Western Standard has reached out to Smith and Poilievre’s offices for comments.
