Members and constituency associations of the United Conservative Party (UCP) of Alberta are submitting proposals calling on the party to add independence to its official list of policies.Sources inside the party tell the Western Standard that about 5% of the resolution proposals the party has received this year suggest adding independence to its statement of principles.This is the first year the party has received such resolutions on independence, the sources say, noting that all the suggested resolutions are being treated “with the respect they deserve.”The proposals 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.“We would also be referring these resolutions to the provincial council. And it looks like that’s what is going to happen," a source said..“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.”Since adding such a policy is “a big deal,” according to the sources, the council would call for a Special General Meeting (SGM).“This is too big of a deal to be handled at an Annual General Meeting (AGM),” the sources added.The resolution would be discussed and voted on at the SGM, if held. The SGM could be held online via Zoom or in person, the sources said.Last year, out of the 250 resolutions that got through the vetting process for government policy, 35 were brought forward and debated at the general meeting -- based on which ones were the most popular..According to the sources, being tied by economic restrictions, such as Bill C-69, the federal equalization program, and blocking pipeline developments, are among the policies that have been driving some individual members of the UCP to call for a change in direction.One economist argues that independence from Canada can be costly, citing court cases, unclear borders with Canada, tariffs, and the need to create a new central bank and set up embassies around the world.“Indigenous groups in Alberta are going to say: ‘Hang on a second, that's our resource,’” Moshe Lander, an economics professor at Concordia University, said in an interview.Alberta contributes significantly to the federal equalization program through its share of federal revenues. Alberta’s fiscal capacity is higher than the Canadian average due to its wealth from natural resources and higher incomes. It has not received equalization payments since 1964–65, as a result.Following the election of Prime Minister Mark Carney on April 28, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith tabled Bill 54, making it easier for Albertans to organize an independence referendum. The bill 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.The UCP's next AGM will be held in November.
