Jay Hill wants to set the record straight: the Maverick Party is not just another Alberta separatist party..The trouble started when, during a previous interview with the Western Standard, Hill — leader of the Maverick Party — stated the Wexit Party, from which the Mavericks grew, was a separatist party, and that created “an albatross around” the Maverick Party’s neck..“Our supporters are angry with me because they incorrectly view that I am backing away from independence for Alberta or for the West,” Hill told the Western Standard Tuesday..Wildrose Independence Party of Alberta Leader Paul Hinman told the Western Standard earlier: “I was quite shocked for him to call it an albatross I mean, it’s actually our freedom — this is the movement Albertans have been looking for and needing.”.But Hill argued his comments were misconstrued..“I was referring, obviously with that albatross comment, the fact that our opponents have been trying for a year to brand us as just another Alberta separatist party,” Hill told the Western Standard Aug. 24..Hill maintains he’s not a separatist; he’s simply in favour of Western independence..Yet he took more heat over his comments that independence could take the form of the same level that Quebec enjoys..“I thought I was communicating that may be where … Westerners end up being comfortable, the same as Quebeckers. But it certainly wasn’t that I envisioned Western separatism in the same vein as what Quebec enjoys. What I was saying was that it’d be up to Westerners to decide what degree of independence they want,” Hill said..“I’m merely saying to all of those who are nervous about the concept of a completely independent sovereign nation that it might not come to that. So I’m trying to reassure both sides. One is that yes, we’ll continue to push for independence, and greater autonomy and fairness. But on the other side, I have no idea — it’s certainly not going to be Jay Hill’s choice — as where we stop on that independence spectrum. It’ll be up to Westerners to decide that at some point in the future,” he said..“It may be that nothing short of a fully independent, sovereign nation will satisfy them… I don’t know.”.Hill said he really has no idea what degree of independence westerners will be happy with in the future. .“Only that we need greater autonomy to ensure control of our OWN destiny,” he said..The Maverick Party plans to have about 30 candidates — who will span the four western provinces — run in key ridings in the upcoming Sept. 20 federal election.
Jay Hill wants to set the record straight: the Maverick Party is not just another Alberta separatist party..The trouble started when, during a previous interview with the Western Standard, Hill — leader of the Maverick Party — stated the Wexit Party, from which the Mavericks grew, was a separatist party, and that created “an albatross around” the Maverick Party’s neck..“Our supporters are angry with me because they incorrectly view that I am backing away from independence for Alberta or for the West,” Hill told the Western Standard Tuesday..Wildrose Independence Party of Alberta Leader Paul Hinman told the Western Standard earlier: “I was quite shocked for him to call it an albatross I mean, it’s actually our freedom — this is the movement Albertans have been looking for and needing.”.But Hill argued his comments were misconstrued..“I was referring, obviously with that albatross comment, the fact that our opponents have been trying for a year to brand us as just another Alberta separatist party,” Hill told the Western Standard Aug. 24..Hill maintains he’s not a separatist; he’s simply in favour of Western independence..Yet he took more heat over his comments that independence could take the form of the same level that Quebec enjoys..“I thought I was communicating that may be where … Westerners end up being comfortable, the same as Quebeckers. But it certainly wasn’t that I envisioned Western separatism in the same vein as what Quebec enjoys. What I was saying was that it’d be up to Westerners to decide what degree of independence they want,” Hill said..“I’m merely saying to all of those who are nervous about the concept of a completely independent sovereign nation that it might not come to that. So I’m trying to reassure both sides. One is that yes, we’ll continue to push for independence, and greater autonomy and fairness. But on the other side, I have no idea — it’s certainly not going to be Jay Hill’s choice — as where we stop on that independence spectrum. It’ll be up to Westerners to decide that at some point in the future,” he said..“It may be that nothing short of a fully independent, sovereign nation will satisfy them… I don’t know.”.Hill said he really has no idea what degree of independence westerners will be happy with in the future. .“Only that we need greater autonomy to ensure control of our OWN destiny,” he said..The Maverick Party plans to have about 30 candidates — who will span the four western provinces — run in key ridings in the upcoming Sept. 20 federal election.
