The Alberta Independence Party (AIP) continues to sort out its post-election power struggle as the party’s board removed its president and de facto leader, marking the third time its top position has changed hands since the spring 2019 election..Todd Beasley, of Brooks, was informed Friday night of the meeting – “involving three to five people” – to remove him from office..He said the “bit of drama” started after he stated he would talk to other like-minded sovereigntist movements in order to move forward the goal of Alberta’s independence..“About 99 per cent of the party agree with me about unification [with the Freedom Conservative party]. I acted in the best interest of the party,” Beasley told the Western Standard on Saturday. “But there are 4 or 5 people that take offence to that.”.Beasley said he nor his supporters had any knowledge of the meeting..“They used a witch’s cauldron and cooked up their scheme. A lot of people are pretty pissed off,” he said. “There’s no place for this kind of conduct.”.Only named to the post three months ago, Beasley said he’s not even sure if the dismissal is valid..“I’ve asked for the minutes of the meeting, who was there and what paperwork has been given to Elections Alberta,” he said. “It’s up to the members of the party which way the want to go, not three, or four, or five people.”.Beasley said he was unsure about party rules governing how a leader can be removed.. Trudeau on WE scandal: Case closed .AIP Executive Director Patrick Reilly confirmed the ouster of Beasley to the Western Standard..He said Beasley had made moves “to the detriment” of the party, refusing to elaborate..“Todd had been appointed on an interim basis for a couple of months. Unfortunately he didn’t step down on his own accord,” said Reilly on Sunday..Reilly also said Beasley was trying to delay the party naming a full time leader. He said the board will have a new president in place by Dec 7 as it moves towards a spring leadership contest..As for his next step, Beasley said he was committed to the movement but didn’t rule out leaving the party noting you “can only push rope” for so long..“The AIP is worth fighting for. We need to hear from the members,” he said..Beasley tried to run for the United Conservative Party in the April election but was disqualified as a nominee for the Brooks-Medicine Hat riding after comments he made on Facebook. He instead ran as an independent unsucessfully.
