Katheryn Speck said he used to be a Canadian nationalist, traveled the world with an Arce leaf in the backpack and once lived in Quebec to be able to become fluently bilingual.
But on Saturday he was among hundreds of people who met in the Alberta Legislature to support Canada’s separation, and many in the crowd stirred Alberta flags and some even showed the stars and stripes of the United States.
“I thought it was a beautiful and fantastic country. But now I am so disappointed. I am literally crushed that we will never be represented in this country and that there is never a possibility to change the government,” said Speck.
Earlier this week, the government of Prime Minister Danielle Smith proposed legislation that would reduce the bar to celebrate a referendum.
While Smith told journalists that he will not presuppose the questions that the Alberta could bring to a ballot, the measure would make citizens ask for a vote to separate from Canada.
The electoral victory of federal liberals has also led some people in the province to demand an exit.
Following the federal elections, which saw another mandate for the Liberal Party, Alberta introduced legislation that could facilitate citizens to be referendums. Now, some lodges that advocate the separation of Canada feel emboldened. Paige Parsons has more than a weekend rally in the legislature.
Speck said the National Energy Program of the 1980s eroded his Canadian pride. Now, a decade of liberal policies that, according to her, has blocked the pipes and has hindered that the province’s energy industry suggests that there is no solution under the confederation.
“Once the votes are counted in Ontario, the choice is over. We don’t matter. We never import,” he said.
Hannah Henze, a 17 -year -old girl who attended Saturday’s demonstration, said he could have felt different about separation if the conservatives had won.
“If (Pierre) Pailievre was inside, I feel that we would have many more hopes than a third or fourth liberal term, which will only ruin our country,” said Henze.
Meanwhile, Leo Jensen said that Canadians are concerned with losing cars manufacturing jobs due to the tariffs of the president of the United States, Donald Trump, but do not seem worried about protecting jobs in the Alberta oil and gas sector.
“I don’t see how a province like Quebec takes all our dirty money, but they won’t let a dirty pipe for Quebec to help an oil refinery in New Brunswick,” Jensen said.
Concerns of the first nation
A few dozen counterprotestors tried to drown the demonstration, many of holding signs saying that the separation would violate the treaties with the first nations.
The head of the nation of Piikani, Troy Knowlton, said in a letter earlier this week that it is understandable that many in the West are frustrated that his rejection of the Federal Liberal Party in the elections did not develop elsewhere. But he said Alberta does not have the authority to interfere or deny treaties.
In his radio call program throughout the province on Saturday, the prime minister said that he completely respects the rights of treaties.
“All I do is change Alberta’s relationship with Ottawa. The first nations have their own relationship with Ottawa and that is consecrated in the treaty. That does not change,” said Smith.
Alberta Prime Minister Danielle Smith accuses the federal government of promoting a zero net energy plan that would be disastrous for the province, while defending legislation that would facilitate the trigger of a referendum to separate from Canada.
In March, Smith threatened a “national unity crisis” if the next prime minister does not accept a list of his demands within six months, but reiterated this week that supports a sovereign Alberta within a United Canada.
The rally assistant, Susan Westernier, said he believed that everything would be better if Alberta separated.
“We have oil, we have the resources. We are fine,” Westernier said, and said he believed that Monday’s elections were manipulated.
