A movement for Alberta independence is too interesting to escape the notice of fiction writers. So far, there are at least two novels with the Alberta independence movement as core themes, one written in the 1970s – Alberta Alone by John Ballem – and the other published earlier this year – True Patriots by Russell Fralich. Unfortunately, in both cases the Alberta patriots are the bad guys..They’re not just your run-of-the-mill bad guys either—in both cases the independence supporters are – literally – terrorists. Spoiler alert: both novels have dramatic endings where the terrorist plots are foiled and Canada is saved (although not without a bit of violent death and destruction to keep things interesting)..The first novel about the Alberta independence movement was originally titled The Judas Conspiracy and it was written by John Ballem in 1976. Ballem was a long-time oil industry lawyer in Calgary and a noteworthy fiction writer. He knew the business environment and political climate of Calgary well, and it shows in this book. However, it’s also clear that he did not sympathize with the idea of an independent Alberta..After the surge in support for independence that resulted from Pierre Trudeau’s 1980 re-election and the subsequent – infamous – National Energy Program, Ballem’s book was re-issued under the title Alberta Alone. According to the July 31, 1981, issue of Alberta Report magazine, about 15,000 copies of The Judas Conspiracy were sold, and close to 40,000 copies of its re-release as Alberta Alone had sold as of mid-1981. Those are very respectable figures in the Canadian book market..The central character of Alberta Alone is Peter Groves, who is just arriving in Calgary for the Stampede at the beginning of the book. He meets and befriends Valerie Thompson, the daughter of a wealthy and prominent oilman and rancher, Charles Thompson. Charles Thompson is the leading voice of the Alberta independence movement. Publicly, he is a respectable and articulate spokesman for independence. Secretly, however, he is also plotting a terrorist attack on Ottawa..Canada’s prime minister is a Liberal, Donald Lambert. After Alberta cuts off shipments of natural gas to Central Canada, Lambert declares that the federal government must take control of Alberta’s oil and gas industry, stating: “I have decided, with the full support of my colleagues in the cabinet, to reconvene Parliament in order to declare under the British North America Act that all oil and gas wells, field facilities and oil sands plants are works for the general advantage of Canada. Once such a declaration is passed all these facilities will come under the exclusive jurisdiction and control of your federal government and we shall operate them for the good of the entire country, as they should be.”. JudasConspiracyFrontCover .Lambert knew this would incense Albertans, but he continued, “I know that the Canadians who live in Alberta will feel resentment at what may appear to be yet another invasion of their rights and their resources. But I know, too, that they will come to realize that these resources must be used for the benefit of the entire country. It would be unthinkable for parts of this country to suffer privation and even danger to life itself because one province hoards an essential resource. Canada is not just a collection of provinces. It is, and will remain, one strong and united country.”.Charles Thompson is, of course, outraged by this move. He sees it as clearly justifying Alberta becoming independent. As he responds, “We don’t have to remain a colony, shipping our raw materials to feed the insatiable industry of eastern Canada. We have a choice. This great country—Alberta—that Ottawa is determined to bring to her knees, can go it alone!”.Thompson then goes on to explain that, “when the federal government unilaterally takes over our oil industry, the cornerstone of our future, keeps our ranchers perpetually on the edge of bankruptcy and arrogantly tells us that we are to remain a colony of the East, loyally supplying our raw materials to fuel its industries, then the time has come for us to seek our own destiny.”.An attempt by the federal government to take control of Alberta’s oil industry, followed by an explosive movement for Alberta independence, is a very realistic plot. Indeed, this story was originally written in 1976, and it’s almost spooky how its portrayal of a Liberal seizure of Alberta’s oil resources foreshadows the National Energy Program just a few years later. Ballem appears somewhat prophetic. Unfortunately, he painted independence supporters with a very sinister hue..It seems that the Alberta independence movement could use some help from aspiring fiction writers. A novel portraying Alberta patriots as the good guys would be a nice change from what has been produced so far. John Ballem was a fine writer, but someone of his calibre is needed to provide a different perspective on the dream and possibility of Alberta independence..Michael Wagner is columnist for the Western Standard. He has a PhD in political science from the University of Alberta. His books include ‘Alberta: Separatism Then and Now’ and ‘True Right: Genuine Conservative Leaders of Western Canada.’
A movement for Alberta independence is too interesting to escape the notice of fiction writers. So far, there are at least two novels with the Alberta independence movement as core themes, one written in the 1970s – Alberta Alone by John Ballem – and the other published earlier this year – True Patriots by Russell Fralich. Unfortunately, in both cases the Alberta patriots are the bad guys..They’re not just your run-of-the-mill bad guys either—in both cases the independence supporters are – literally – terrorists. Spoiler alert: both novels have dramatic endings where the terrorist plots are foiled and Canada is saved (although not without a bit of violent death and destruction to keep things interesting)..The first novel about the Alberta independence movement was originally titled The Judas Conspiracy and it was written by John Ballem in 1976. Ballem was a long-time oil industry lawyer in Calgary and a noteworthy fiction writer. He knew the business environment and political climate of Calgary well, and it shows in this book. However, it’s also clear that he did not sympathize with the idea of an independent Alberta..After the surge in support for independence that resulted from Pierre Trudeau’s 1980 re-election and the subsequent – infamous – National Energy Program, Ballem’s book was re-issued under the title Alberta Alone. According to the July 31, 1981, issue of Alberta Report magazine, about 15,000 copies of The Judas Conspiracy were sold, and close to 40,000 copies of its re-release as Alberta Alone had sold as of mid-1981. Those are very respectable figures in the Canadian book market..The central character of Alberta Alone is Peter Groves, who is just arriving in Calgary for the Stampede at the beginning of the book. He meets and befriends Valerie Thompson, the daughter of a wealthy and prominent oilman and rancher, Charles Thompson. Charles Thompson is the leading voice of the Alberta independence movement. Publicly, he is a respectable and articulate spokesman for independence. Secretly, however, he is also plotting a terrorist attack on Ottawa..Canada’s prime minister is a Liberal, Donald Lambert. After Alberta cuts off shipments of natural gas to Central Canada, Lambert declares that the federal government must take control of Alberta’s oil and gas industry, stating: “I have decided, with the full support of my colleagues in the cabinet, to reconvene Parliament in order to declare under the British North America Act that all oil and gas wells, field facilities and oil sands plants are works for the general advantage of Canada. Once such a declaration is passed all these facilities will come under the exclusive jurisdiction and control of your federal government and we shall operate them for the good of the entire country, as they should be.”. JudasConspiracyFrontCover .Lambert knew this would incense Albertans, but he continued, “I know that the Canadians who live in Alberta will feel resentment at what may appear to be yet another invasion of their rights and their resources. But I know, too, that they will come to realize that these resources must be used for the benefit of the entire country. It would be unthinkable for parts of this country to suffer privation and even danger to life itself because one province hoards an essential resource. Canada is not just a collection of provinces. It is, and will remain, one strong and united country.”.Charles Thompson is, of course, outraged by this move. He sees it as clearly justifying Alberta becoming independent. As he responds, “We don’t have to remain a colony, shipping our raw materials to feed the insatiable industry of eastern Canada. We have a choice. This great country—Alberta—that Ottawa is determined to bring to her knees, can go it alone!”.Thompson then goes on to explain that, “when the federal government unilaterally takes over our oil industry, the cornerstone of our future, keeps our ranchers perpetually on the edge of bankruptcy and arrogantly tells us that we are to remain a colony of the East, loyally supplying our raw materials to fuel its industries, then the time has come for us to seek our own destiny.”.An attempt by the federal government to take control of Alberta’s oil industry, followed by an explosive movement for Alberta independence, is a very realistic plot. Indeed, this story was originally written in 1976, and it’s almost spooky how its portrayal of a Liberal seizure of Alberta’s oil resources foreshadows the National Energy Program just a few years later. Ballem appears somewhat prophetic. Unfortunately, he painted independence supporters with a very sinister hue..It seems that the Alberta independence movement could use some help from aspiring fiction writers. A novel portraying Alberta patriots as the good guys would be a nice change from what has been produced so far. John Ballem was a fine writer, but someone of his calibre is needed to provide a different perspective on the dream and possibility of Alberta independence..Michael Wagner is columnist for the Western Standard. He has a PhD in political science from the University of Alberta. His books include ‘Alberta: Separatism Then and Now’ and ‘True Right: Genuine Conservative Leaders of Western Canada.’
