NationMaster - Encyclopedia: Alberta separatism

Alberta separatism is a fringe movement that advocates the secession of the province of Alberta from Canada either by forming an independent nation or by creating a new federation with one or more of Canada's other four westernmost provinces. Image File history File links Circle-question. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Motto: Fortis et liber(Latin) Strong and free Capital Edmonton Largest city Calgary Official languages English (see below) Government - Lieutenant-Governor Norman Kwong - Premier Ed Stelmach (PC) Federal representation in Canadian Parliament - House seats 28 - Senate seats 6 Confederation September 1, 1905 (split from Northwest Territories) (8th [Province]) Area Ranked... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ...

Foundations

Alberta separatism arises from the belief held by some that Alberta is culturally distinct from the rest of Canada, and particularly from Eastern Canada, and from the belief that Alberta is harmed economically by providing financial support to other provinces through the federal transfer payment program. The Albertan economy has been traditionally based on ranching, and in the last half of the 20th century, been bolstered by considerable revenues from oil and gas production. Alberta has developed a political culture that is more conservative, in both economic and social issues (though to a lesser extent), than the rest of Canada. Eastern Canada, defined politically. ...

This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... Motto: Splendor Sine Occasu (Latin: Splendour without diminishment) Capital Victoria Largest city Vancouver Official languages English Government - Lieutenant-Governor Iona Campagnolo - Premier Gordon Campbell (BC Liberal) Federal representation in Canadian Parliament - House seats 36 - Senate seats 6 Confederation July 20, 1871 (6th province) Area Ranked 4th - Total 944,735 km... Motto: Multis E Gentibus Vires (Latin: The Strength of Many Peoples) Capital Regina Largest city Saskatoon Official languages English Government - Lieutenant-Governor Gordon Barnhart - Premier Lorne Calvert (NDP) Federal representation in Canadian Parliament - House seats 14 - Senate seats 6 Confederation September 1, 1905 (Split from NWT) (9th (province)) Area Ranked... Motto: Gloriosus et Liber (Latin: Glorious and free) BC AB SK MB ON QC NB PE NS NL YT NT NU Capital Winnipeg Largest city Winnipeg Official languages English Government - Lieutenant-Governor John Harvard - Premier Gary Doer (NDP) Federal representation in Canadian Parliament - House seats 14 - Senate seats 6 Confederation... Western Canada, defined politically Western separatism is the ideology that advances the concept of the Western provinces of Canada -- Alberta, British Columbia, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba -- should secede. ...

History

1980s

During the 1980s, when the National Energy Program was created by the federal government under Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau, support for Alberta separatism reached levels that (as of 2006) have not been matched since. Gordon Kesler was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Alberta in a by-election in Olds-Didsbury as a candidate of the Western Canada Concept party [1]. In response, Premier Peter Lougheed called a snap election in which the party nominated 78 candidates in the province's 79 ridings (electoral districts). Although the party won almost 12% of the popular vote (over 111,000 votes), Kesler was defeated after changing ridings, and no other candidate was elected. The party's popularity declined after the Progressive Conservative Party, led by Brian Mulroney, defeated Prime Minister John Turner as in the 1984 federal election although the WCC still managed a strong third place showing in another by-election in Spirit River-Fairview held in 1985. [2]. Under Mulroney, the NEP was rapidly dismantled. The National Energy Program (NEP) was an energy policy of the Government of Canada. ... Regions Political culture Foreign relations Other countries Atlas Politics Portal The Prime Minister of Canada (French: Premier ministre du Canada), is the Minister of the Crown who is head of the Government of Canada. ... For other uses, see Pierre Elliott Trudeau (disambiguation). ... 2006 is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Gordon Kesler was a politician from Alberta, Canada. ... The Legislative Assembly of Alberta meets in the provincial capital, Edmonton. ... A by-election or bye-election is a special election held to fill a political office when the incumbent has died or resigned. ... Olds-Didsbury was a provincial electoral district in central southern Alberta, Canada. ... The Western Canada Concept was a Western Canadian political party founded in 1980 to promote the separation of the provinces of Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia and the Yukon and Northwest Territories from Canada in order to create a new nation. ... Categories: Canada-related stubs | Alberta premiers ... Peter Lougheed, painting by C. Leeper The Honourable Peter Lougheed, PC , CC , QC (born July 26, 1928, in Calgary, Alberta) is a Canadian lawyer, politician and Canadian Football League player. ... The Alberta general election of 1982 was the twentieth general election for the Province of Alberta, Canada. ... An electoral district is a geographically-based constituency upon which Canadas representative democracy is based. ... Martin Brian Mulroney, PC, CC, GOQ, LLD (born March 20, 1939), was the eighteenth Prime Minister of Canada from September 17, 1984, to June 25, 1993 and was leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada from 1983 to 1993. ... John Napier Turner, PC, CC, QC, MA, BCL, LLD (born June 7, 1929) was the seventeenth Prime Minister of Canada from June 30, 1984 to September 17, 1984. ... The Canadian federal election of 1984 was called on July 4, 1984, and held on September 4 of that year. ...

2000s

Political events in the early 21st century have led to a resurgence in interest in Alberta separatism. In the 2004 federal election, the governing Liberal Party of Canada was returned with a minority government despite allegations of corruption. Albertans voted overwhelmingly (61.7%) for the opposition Conservative Party, while only 22.0% of Albertans supported the Liberals. There is also significant opposition within Alberta to the Kyoto Protocol as the Kyoto treaty has been believed to have negative effects on the provincial economy. The Canadian federal election, 2004 (more formally, the 38th general election), was held on June 28, 2004 to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons. ... The Liberal Party of Canada (French: ), colloquially known as the Grits (originally Clear Grits), is a Canadian federal political party. ... This article does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... The sponsorship scandal, AdScam, or Sponsorgate, is an ongoing scandal that came as a result of a Canadian federal government sponsorship program in the province of Quebec and involving the Liberal Party of Canada (mostly its Quebec branch), which was in power since 1993 up to January 2006. ... Kyoto Protocol Opened for signature December 11, 1997 in Kyoto, Japan Entered into force February 16, 2005. ...

Despite these events, Alberta separatism is still considered by many Albertans (including most of the political establishment) to be the domain of fringe groups. Furthermore, Alberta's first past the post electoral system makes it very difficult to elect any candidate who represents what is perceived to be a fringe party. As of 2006, no elected political parties or Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) in Alberta unconditionally favour outright secession. The plurality voting system, also known as first past the post, is a voting system used to elect a single winner in a given election. ... 2006 is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... A Member of the Legislative Assembly, or MLA, is a representative elected by the voters of an electoral district to the Legislature or legislative assembly of a subnational jurisdiction. ...

In the 2004 general election, the Separation Party of Alberta nominated 12 candidates who won 4,680 votes, 0.5% of the provincial total. No candidates were elected. This was less support than the Alberta Independence Party had attracted in the 2001 election, when 15 candidates attracted 7,500 votes. Alberta riding map showing the winning parties and their vote percentage in each won riding. ... The Separation Party of Alberta, also known as the Alberta Huttonite Brethren is a totallly undemocratic political party that advocates the secession of Alberta from Canada. ... The Alberta Independence Party (AIP) was a provincial party founded in Alberta, Canada, in 2000/1. ... The 25th general election for the Province of Alberta, Canada, was held on March 12, 2001 to elect members of the Alberta legislature. ...

However, the notion of Albertan secession from Canada has gained sympathy from some figures within Alberta's conservative parties. A candidate in the Alberta Alliance's most recent leadership election offered conditional support for separation if the Conservatives lost the 2006 federal election. The candidate, David Crutcher, finished third in a field of four candidates with 21.5% of the vote in the second ballot. The Alliance, widely considered to be the most right-wing of the four parties with current representation in the Legislature, officially favours greater autonomy for Alberta within Canada. As of 2006, the Alliance continued to explicitly reject separation as a matter of party policy. It holds one seat in the Legislature. The Alberta Alliance is a right wing political party in Alberta. ... The Alberta Alliance Party a conservative political party in Alberta, Canada, will be holding its second leadership convention on November 18 and 19, 2005, in Red Deer, Alberta. ... Rendition of party representation in the 39th Canadian parliament decided by this election. ... David Crutcher is a politician and small buisness man from Calgary, Alberta. ...

Even after the federal Tories won the 2006 election, a prominent Albertan Progressive Conservative and a candidate for the Tory leadership also refused to reject secession under all circumstances. Mark Norris, one of the contenders to succeed Ralph Klein as the Albertan Premier, told the Calgary Sun in March 2006 that under his leadership, if a future federal government persisted in bringing in policies harmful to Alberta such as a carbon tax, "(Alberta is) going to take steps to secede." [3] The Conservative Party of Canada (French: Parti conservateur du Canada), colloquially known as the Tories, is a conservative political party in Canada, formed by the merger of the Canadian Alliance and the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada in December 2003. ... The Alberta Progressive Conservative Association is a provincial right-of-centre party in the Canadian province of Alberta. ... The Progressive Conservative Association of Alberta will hold a leadership election on November 25, 2006 and December 2, 2006 (if a second ballot is needed). ... Mark Norris (born 1962) is an Albertan politician, former MLA and prospective candidate for the leadership of the Alberta Progressive Conservative Party. ... Ralph Phillip Klein MLA (born November 1, 1942), leader of the Alberta Progressive Conservatives, is the current premier of the Canadian province of Alberta. ... Categories: Canada-related stubs | Alberta premiers ... The Calgary Sun is a daily newspaper published in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. ... A carbon tax is a tax on energy sources which emit carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. ...

Also, some politicians and at least one poll have indicated that a much larger percentage of the Albertan population may be at least sympathetic to the notion of secession than would be indicated by election results. In January 2004, Premier Klein told the Canadian edition of Readers Digest that one in four Albertans (25%) were in support of separation. An August 2005 poll published by the Western Standard pegged support for exploring the idea of forming a country at 42% in Alberta and 35.6% across the four Western provinces [4]. In response, some people have claimed that the Western Standard's poll question was too vague to be used for determining support for secession. The cover of the May 2004 issue of Readers Digest. ... The Western Standard bills itself as Western Canadas only national news magazine and is printed 24 times a year. ...

Although Klein has stated that he is committed to Canadian federalism, he has discussed measures that would distance the province considerably from the federal government. In 2003, Klein indicated that he was considering ideas on implementing what was called a political and economic "firewall". A top priority for many Albertans is withdrawal from the Canada Pension Plan, given the province's youthful demographics. Other proposals include establishing a provincial police force, collecting provincial income tax directly (rather than through the federal government), and essentially withdrawing from the Canada Health Act. [5] All these measures would be constitutional, since they involve powers and responsibilities assigned to the provinces by Canada's constitution, and in fact all of them have been implemented by some other provinces, with the exception of withdrawal from the Canada Health Act, but none of the "firewall" proposals have since been implemented in Alberta. Canadian federalism is one of the three pillars of the constitutional order, along with responsible government and the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. ... The Alberta Agenda was a letter penned by prominent Albertans, amongst them Stephen Harper and Ted Morton, urging Albertas Premier, Ralph Klein, to fully exercise Albertas constitutional powers. ... The Canada Pension Plan (CPP) is a contributory, earnings-related social insurance program. ... Albertas population has grown steadily for over a century The province of Alberta has enjoyed a relatively high rate of growth in recent years, due in large part to its burgeoning economy. ... The Canada Health Act is a piece of Canadian federal legislation, adopted in 1984, that lists the conditions and criteria to which the provinces and territories must conform in order to receive the full amount of negotiated transfer payments relating to health care. ... Regions Political culture Foreign relations Other countries Atlas Politics Portal The Constitution of Canada is the supreme law in Canada. ...

The Conservatives under Ontario-bred, University of Calgary alum, Stephen Harper won a minority government in the 2006 federal election, leaving the separatist cause with uncertain prospects, at least for the short term. Many pundits have predicted that this result will cause support for separatism to ebb away, however it is worth noting that Alberta separatism last peaked after a previous Conservative minority was defeated and replaced by a Liberal government. Some prominent federal Liberal leadership candidates such as Bob Rae have promised they would not unfairly target Albertan wealth should they be elected. Stephen Joseph Harper (born April 30, 1959) is the 22nd and current Prime Minister of Canada and leader of the Conservative Party of Canada. ... This article does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Rendition of party representation in the 39th Canadian parliament decided by this election. ... Wikinews has news related to: Ignatieff tops first ballot in Canadian Liberal convention Canadian Liberal vote heads to third ballot Dion leads Ignatieff heading into final ballot of Canadian Liberal vote Dion wins Canadian Liberal leadership on fourth ballot Wikinews has news related to: Liberal Party of Canada leadership, 2006... Hon. ...

See also

A U.S. 51 star flag has been designed in case of a 51st state actually joining the United States. ... The Alberta Independence Party (AIP) was a provincial party founded in Alberta, Canada, in 2000/1. ... At various times, annexationist movements in Canada have campaigned in favour of the annexation of parts or all of Canada by the United States. ... Albertas first Legislature, Edmonton, 1906 The politics of Alberta are centred on a provincial government resembling that of the other Canadian provinces. ... The Quebec sovereignty movement (French: Mouvement souverainiste du QuÃ©bec) is a political movement aimed at attaining independent statehood (sovereignty) for the Canadian province of Quebec. ... Throughout the history of Canada, there have been movements seeking secession from Canada. ... The Separation Party of Alberta, also known as the Alberta Huttonite Brethren is a totallly undemocratic political party that advocates the secession of Alberta from Canada. ... Western Canada, defined politically Political map of Canada Western Alienation refers to the concept in Canadian politics of the Western provinces, namely British Columbia (B.C.), Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba, being alienated, and in extreme cases excluded, from mainstream political affairs within the greater Canadian system, in favour of especially... The Western Canada Concept was a Western Canadian political party founded in 1980 to promote the separation of the provinces of Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia and the Yukon and Northwest Territories from Canada in order to create a new nation. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Western Canada Independence Party. ... Western Canada, defined politically Western separatism is the ideology that advances the concept of the Western provinces of Canada -- Alberta, British Columbia, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba -- should secede. ...

External links

Categories: Articles that may contain original research | Politics of Alberta | Secession in Canada Albertas first Legislature, Edmonton, 1906 The politics of Alberta are centred on a provincial government resembling that of the other Canadian provinces. ... In Canada, the lieutenant-governor (often without a hyphen[1], pronounced ), in French lieutenant-gouverneur/lieutenant-gouverneure (always with a hyphen), is the Canadian Monarchs, or Crowns, representative in a province, much as the Governor General is her representative at the national level. ... Norman Lim Kwong, CM, AOE, KStJ, a. ... This is a list of the Lieutenant-Governors of Alberta, Canada, since its establishment in 1905. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Alberta. ... Categories: Canada-related stubs | Alberta premiers ... Edward Stelmach (born ca. ... This is a list of the premier of the province of Alberta, Canada, since its creation in 1905. ... The Legislative Assembly of Alberta meets in the provincial capital, Edmonton. ... (Redirected from 26th Alberta Legislative Assembly) The Legislative Assembly of Alberta meets in the provincial capital, Edmonton. ... Alberta Legislative Assemblies represent the legislature of Alberta and sit in the provincial capital, Edmonton. ... The Executive Council of Alberta (commonly known as the cabinet) is made up of members of the Alberta Progressive Conservative Party which holds a majority of seats in the Legislative Assmebly of Alberta. ... The Speaker of the Alberta Legislative Assembly, is the presiding officer in the Legislative Assembly of Alberta. ... The Honorable Ken Reginald Kowalski was born September 27, 1945 in Bonnyville, Alberta is a politician and current Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta. ... The Leader of the Opposition (French: Chef de lOpposition) in Canada is the Member of Parliament in the Canadian House of Commons who leads Her Majestys Loyal Opposition (the body in Parliament recognized as the Official Opposition). ... Kevin Taft (born September 9, 1955, in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan) is leader of the Alberta Liberal Party and leader of the opposition in the Alberta legislature. ... This is a list of Leaders of the Official Opposition in the Legislative Assembly of Alberta since 1905 to present. ... This article lists political parties in Canada. ... The Progressive Conservative Association of Alberta is a provincial right-of-centre party in the Canadian province of Alberta. ... The Alberta Liberal Party is a political party in Alberta, Canada. ... The Alberta New Democratic Party or Alberta NDP is a social democratic political party in Alberta, Canada, that was founded as the Alberta section of the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation (CCF). ... The Alberta Alliance is a right wing political party in Alberta, Canada. ... The Alberta Party began as an alliance of the Social Credit Party of Alberta, Western Canada Concept, and the Heritage Party of Alberta in 1986. ... Wikipedia does not yet have an article with this exact name. ... Categories: Organization stubs | Green political parties | Alberta political parties ... The Separation Party of Alberta, also known as the Alberta Huttonite Brethren is a totallly undemocratic political party that advocates the secession of Alberta from Canada. ... The Social Credit Party of Alberta is a provincial political party in Alberta, Canada, that was founded on the social credit monetary policy and conservative Christian social values. ... Alberta is a province of Canada. ... Alberta riding map showing the winning parties and their vote percentage in each won riding. ... Alberta is a province of Canada. ... Alberta provincial electoral districts are currently single member ridings that each elect one member to the Legislative Assembly of Alberta. ... Current electoral laws in Alberta, Canada fix the number of legislature seats at 83. ... Equalization payments are cash payments made in some federal systems of government from the federal government to state or provincial governments with the objective of offsetting differences in available revenue or in the cost of providing services. ... The Prosperity Bonus, announced in September 2005, is the name given to a program designed to pay money back to residents of the Canadian province of Alberta as a result of a massive oil-fuelled provincial budget surplus. ... Flag of Alberta Same-sex marriage in Alberta: The province of Alberta began granting marriage licences to same-sex couples on July 20, 2005 upon the granting of Royal Assent to the Civil Marriage Act. ... Canada is a constitutional monarchy and a Commonwealth Realm (see Monarchy in Canada) with a federal system of parliamentary government, and strong democratic traditions. ... Prior to 1903, there were no political parties in British Columbia, Canada, other than at the federal level. ... Albertas first Legislature, Edmonton, 1906 The politics of Alberta are centred on a provincial government resembling that of the other Canadian provinces. ... The Politics of Saskatchewan are part of the Canadian federal political system along with the other Canadian provinces. ... The Canadian province of Manitoba is governed by a unicameral legislature, the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba, which operates under the Westminster system of government. ... The Province of Ontario is governed by a unicameral legislature, the Legislative Assembly of Ontario, which operates in the Westminster system of government. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... New Brunswick has a unicameral legislature with 55 seats. ... Nova Scotia is a parliamentary democracy. ... The politics of Prince Edward Island are centred on a provincial government resembling that of the other Canadian provinces. ... The politics of Northwest Territories have been centered around the struggle for responsible government and provincial rights. ...

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