Peter Downing, founder of Wexit Alberta, says election day could be a big one for his separatist movement. (rdnewsNOW/Josh Hall)

By Josh Hall (Twitter: @Vancan19)

is separation realistic?

Western separatist movement could explode Monday, says founder

Oct 19, 2019 | 2:53 PM

The founder of Wexit Alberta says of course it’s realistic that the province could separate from the rest of Canada.

In Red Deer on Saturday morning, Peter Downing met with around 50 supporters of his movement, and pointed to an early 2019 Angus Reid poll which found half of respondents see separation as a real possibility.

He says that poll, as well as his belief that Alberta has more competent people to run things, “than the Queen of England,” are evidence that Monday, Oct. 21 could be a more pivotal day than most people realize for the future of the country and Alberta.

“Let’s say the Conservatives form a coalition with the Bloc Quebecois; that would be telling western Canadians that you can’t trust the Conservative Party of Canada,” Downing said. “If it’s a coalition with the NDP or Greens, well they’ve fundamentally outright said they’re opposed to our pipeline. So either way, or unless the Conservatives can get a majority, the separatist movement is going to explode, and you’re going to see our billboards across Alberta.”

More recent polls, including one from ThinkHQ Public Affairs released on Friday, suggest 72 per cent of decided voters would elect to stay in Canada, while just 28 per cent would choose to become an independent country. Downing discounted other polls, suggesting some are tied to special interest groups.

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During the town hall-type meeting, Downing addressed specific issues such as currency, firearms regulations, and access to water. He also claimed there is significant support from our neighbours in British Columbia.

“I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: B.C. has appendicitis in the lower mainland and Vancouver Island. Politically and economically, it is the appendix,” he remarked. “Everybody across B.C., except for down in the lower mainland, is saying ‘We want to join you.’ We are launching Wexit B.C. very soon and you’re going to see bigger support across western Canada for Wexit than we did for the Reform Party.”

Downing then noted the disparity in Senate seats between Alberta (34), Ontario (121) and Quebec (78) as one more example of how Alberta is continuously at a disadvantage, pointing out Stephen Harper’s inability to make changes despite the fact he is from Calgary.

He ended by challenging Alberta Premier Jason Kenney who has expressed his desire for a referendum on changing the formula for equalization payments.

“A referendum on separation is the only thing that matters. If he doesn’t give us what we want, then he’s going to find himself voted out, and his pipe dreams of becoming prime minister are going to evaporate overnight,” Downing stated.

“It’s not about losing your identity as a Canadian — you can add the word west or western in front of that. This land isn’t being physically picked up and moved, we’re just having Albertans govern Alberta for Albertans, and western Canadians governing western Canada. It’s not hard to think about.”

A Wexit Alberta rally is scheduled for Nov. 30 in Red Deer, with others happening in Calgary (Nov. 2) and Edmonton (Nov. 16).