UPDATED: Former MLA launches Alberta Now federal party, promises stronger voice in Ottawa

CALGARY — A new Alberta-only federal political party is in the works, with former Cypress-Medicine Hat MLA Drew Barnes announcing the launch of Alberta Now at the Capitalism and Morality conference in Calgary on Saturday.The proposed party is designed to challenge the Conservative Party of Canada and give Alberta a Bloc Québécois-style voice in Ottawa.“Quebec has shown with the Bloc Québécois that they’ve been very effective at advancing Quebec culture, Quebec values and Quebec needs in legislation in Ottawa,” Barnes said in an interview.“Our goal will be to do the same.”The proposed party intends to run candidates exclusively in Alberta’s 37 federal ridings.Barnes told the Western Standard that Alberta needs its own federal party because many residents no longer believe their interests are being properly represented by national political parties.“It’s been 150 years of the same system, and many Albertans are telling me they feel unrepresented in Ottawa,” he said.“Time and time again, when there’s a whipped Conservative Party of Canada vote — something that Quebec needs or the East needs, or they think they need to satisfy the Toronto area — Albertans are very frustrated that, even though we’re a strong part of Canada, we’re not getting equal treatment.”.MARRIOTT: Alberta’s independence referendum isn't fringe anymore — and the media knows it.When asked about the possibility of Alberta Now splitting the conservative vote and giving the Liberals or the NDP an Alberta seat, Barnes rejected the claim, saying he was “not concerned at all.”“Albertans have told me, hundreds of them, that they feel they're not represented in Ottawa. They want a party that's there for Albertans, not a party that gets whipped into shape when the Conservative Party of Canada thinks Ontario or Quebec needs something,” he stated.“Voter turnout is low because people are saying they don't feel represented in our system. This is a way to make it better for all Albertans.”An official statement from Alberta Renewal — a citizen-led movement advancing an “Albertans First” agenda — identifies Barnes, Zach Sawatzky, Hayden Beck, principal at EBT Chartered Professional Accountants, and C.W. Alexander, executive director of Alberta4All, as founding members of the group organizing Alberta Now.In the statement, the group accuses federal Conservative MPs of failing to repeal the Liberal government’s Impact Assessment Act and end its oil tanker moratorium while leaving federal carbon policies and equalization intact.“For years we have sent Conservative MPs to occupy nearly every federal seat in this province. Those MPs have sat in a national caucus whipped to national priorities,” the statement reads.“They have not repealed C-48 or C-69. They have not stopped the carbon architecture that prices our product. They have not ended the equalization and redistribution drain. They have not brought a true conservative, Alberta-First standard to Ottawa. They have warmed seats. Alberta has paid the bill.”.Independence advocate pitches October's referendum as a chance for Alberta to gain leverage over Ottawa.Barnes also said Alberta Now would consider supporting the Liberal government if it offered concessions that clearly benefited Alberta.“We would support the Liberal government with concessions for Alberta, but everything needs to be wrapped in fiscal conservatism,” he told the Western Standard.“If it's absolutely good for Alberta families, we will entertain it, but Albertans know that what’s best for Albertans is smaller government, lower taxes, more provincial power and provincial autonomy, and constitutional reform.”The Alberta Renewal statement sets out a division of responsibilities between Alberta Now and Alberta Renewal, with Alberta Now serving as the federal voice and Alberta Renewal representing “the unified Alberta conservative vision” and “the provincial project of renewal, ownership, and prosperity.”“Alberta Renewal’s mandate has not changed. We continue that provincial work. The October 19 referendum is one test of the larger argument. It may succeed. It may not,” the statement reads.“Either way, the federal problem remains. A referendum in Edmonton does not put an Alberta-First bench in the House of Commons. A stronger provincial government still has to negotiate with a Parliament in which Alberta’s MPs are disciplined by a national whip. The two tracks have to move together.”Barnes also levelled criticism at Premier Danielle Smith and the UCP government, saying they need to take further action toward provincial autonomy.“Danielle hasn't done nearly enough to improve and strengthen Alberta's position in Canada,” he said.“There are many things she could do without the referendum or without stalling: establish our own police force, gain more control over immigration, collect our own taxes and have our own pension. She's done none of that. We would be putting pressure on her to do things that will make Alberta freer and more prosperous.”.DREW BARNES: Danielle Smith scores again — why does it always have to be in her own net?.Barnes said he and other Alberta Now organizers have spoken informally with some former Conservative MPs, although he declined to identify them or say whether anyone had committed to joining Alberta Now.“We’ve talked to some of the former guys at meetings and stuff like that, and the buzz is high,” he said.“At this point in time, we’re in the first-week stage. We are gathering signatures like crazy to submit to Elections Canada so we can become an official party in time for a by-election and in time to start to be the voice for Albertans.”Barnes said no decision has been made about whether he will seek the party leadership or run as a candidate, adding that Alberta Now intends to hold open leadership and candidate nomination contests after completing the Elections Canada registration process.“We’re going to spend the next month or so getting registered and getting properly organized. Then we’re going to spend the next three or four months working on our strategic plan, and then we’ll be ready to go,” he said.So far, the group has collected more than 500 signatures since its public launch and plans to submit its application to Elections Canada within weeks.Under federal rules, an aspiring party must submit declarations from at least 250 eligible electors as part of the registration process.

UPDATED: Former MLA launches Alberta Now federal party, promises stronger voice in Ottawa

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