allianceatsepartistmeet

Alliance MPs at Alta. separatist meeting
Members seek autonomy: Stockwell Day to call for national unity in speech today
Sheldon Alberts, with files from Howard May, Calgary Herald
National Post;-- Calgary Herald--Jan.22, 2001
CALGARY - Two Canadian Alliance MPs attended the inaugural convention of a party that is pressing for Albertan independence.
Myron Thompson, who represents Alberta's Wild Rose riding, and Darrell Stinson, MP for the British Columbia riding of Okanagan-Shuswap, were joined at the weekend Alberta Independence Party meeting by two senior Alliance officials, senators-in-waiting Bert Brown and Ted Morton.
Stockwell Day, the Canadian Alliance leader, will today deliver a major address preaching national unity in Vancouver.
In an interview, Mr. Thompson insisted he does not favour separation as the solution to Western alienation, but believes a movement such as the Alberta Independence Party can pressure Jean Chrétien, the Prime Minister, into allowing provinces more autonomy within Confederation.
"It is important that everybody pay attention to what they are saying because there are not just a few [western separatists]. There's many," Mr. Thompson said, explaining he attended the meeting "to listen."
"If this is a way to wake up Chrétien and this government and strengthen the provincial powers that should be in place, then [the Alberta Independence Party] might have some value to it."
Mr. Brown, a longtime Senate reform activist, took the microphone to encourage the party organizers.
"I wish you every success," said Mr. Brown, who was elected two years ago with Mr. Morton as Albertans' choice for future seats in the Upper Chamber in a non-binding plebiscite held in conjunction with civic elections.
The new party is attempting to organize itself in time to run candidates in the upcoming Alberta provincial election, expected in early March. It is still several hundred signatures short of the required 5,400 names needed to register as a party.
Party activists squabbled over a proposed constitution, with members voting down a proposal to make a full commitment to secede.
Instead, the party approved an interim constitution that reads: "The people of Alberta believe that the current partnership in the Confederation of Canada is biased. This organization seeks a mandate from the constituents of Alberta to seek independence for Alberta."
Cory Morgan, a Calgary surveyor and interim leader of the party, said: "We won't separate tomorrow, or next year. Perhaps we can negotiate a new union with Canada, but we're going to negotiate a harsh one. We're talking about a whole new role in Confederation, but I'm not here to be soft. We're separatists."
Mr. Thompson said he has been hearing increasing support for separation among his central Alberta constituents, though he says a separatist could not yet get elected.
The movement has grown since November's federal election, which saw the Alliance strengthen its hold on Western Canada and the Liberals re-entrench their support in central and eastern Canada. Many Westerners were furious with Mr. Chrétien for saying he preferred doing politics with people from the East.
"These people feel they have been ignored and the central powers don't give much of a hoot about the West," said Mr. Thompson.
"I'm not a separatist. I just want this country to hold together in the strongest way possible. But with the people we have now running the show, these people feel it will never happen."
Phil von Finckenstein, Mr. Day's communications director, yesterday distanced the Alliance from the Alberta Independence Party, but said it is a sign there is legitimate concern about the Liberals' approach to federalism.
"We are saying this is the unfortunate outcome of years of Chrétien federalism," said Mr. Von Finckenstein. "The Canadian Alliance has a very clear and has a very positive approach that would stifle movements such as separation. It is understandable that movements like the Alberta Independence Party exist because of what is being offered by the national government, which plays one part of the nation against each other."
In a major speech today in Vancouver, Mr. Day is planning to criticize Mr. Chrétien for exacerbating Western alienation with his remarks during the election campaign. He will pitch his party's proposals for increased decentralization and respect for rights guaranteed the provinces under the Constitution.
"He is speaking as a national leader on national issues. We feel our approach to national issues would ameliorate a lot of those concerns," Mr. Von Finckenstein said.