NDP motion demanding unity vote dropped again by UCP

For the second time, the motion was eventually dropped to the bottom of the order paper, meaning it will not be voted on.

Alberta’s opposition has been adamant in their rejection of separatism and has called on the premier to boot UCP MLA Drew Barnes for repeatedly saying the independence vote needs to be a chip on the bargaining table.

It is no secret that Kenney is an ardent federalist.

This doesn’t surprise the Wildrose Independence Party of Alberta’s president, Rick Northey, who said it’s part of the parcel for “Kenney, the Federalist.”

“He doesn’t want to give any credibility or support to anybody that might be on his right flank or advocating ideas that he can contribute to or spearhead. Of course, he’s going to downplay the threat of separatism as an irrelevant political narrative,” said Northey, who finds it interesting that it’s easier to recall city councillors or school board trustees than an MLA. 

Alberta’s government introduced Bills 51 and 52 last week as part of their mandate to grant voters more significant accountability measures in holding their representatives accountable and proposing policy for the province to consider.

Northey says he is most disappointed by the “total sham and the complete manipulation” of Bill 52 and the leadership review’s coincidence – about six months before the next provincial election.

Conservative critics claim that both Bills have benchmarks that make garnering signatures for petitions unfeasible.

“As far as Bill 51 is concerned, and if I’m not mistaken, Kenney’s government wrote the laws such that he gave the provincial cabinet power to decide if it’s binding, non-binding, and even potentially reword the question itself. So I’d like to see them honestly give power to the people that collect signatures on a petition for a referendum. 

“I’d like to see the government monitor the wording of the question and make it binding, not simply manipulate the legislation to reserve all power to the cabinet,” he said.

Alberta’s other separatist party, The Independence Party, was thoroughly disappointed by the “dishonesty” of the premier to claim that the number of Albertans who support independence is small enough for him to ignore. 

“While the number of votes cast for The Independence Party (TIP) in the last election was small, current polls are showing upwards of 40 per cent believe Alberta would be better off outside the Canadian confederation,” said Vicky Bayford, the party’s V.P. Communications.

“Like Mr. Kenney, The Independence Party has no desire to ‘get into an endless debate over separating.’ We believe that when faced with the realities of greater justice, freedom, and prosperity, even more voters will choose to start the 6-year transition to a separate and sovereign nation of Alberta.”

Dhaliwal is a Western Standard reporter based in Edmonton