Key Takeaways
- The Alberta Prosperity Project (APP) claims that at least 25 planned meetings for separatists have been cancelled due to pressure from sovereignty opponents across the country.
- The APP is pushing for Alberta’s independence from Canada and has until May 2 to gather at least 177,732 valid signatures from eligible Alberta voters to proceed to the referendum phase.
- Pro-Canada forces, including the Forever Canada petition movement, are organizing and preparing for a potential referendum call by the provincial government this fall.
- The Royal Canadian Legion has stated that it will not host or support meetings or petition activities for any political group, including the APP and Forever Canada.
- Despite the challenges, the APP and its followers remain determined to push for Alberta’s independence.
Introduction to the Alberta Prosperity Project
The Alberta Prosperity Project (APP) is a organization that is pushing for Alberta’s independence from Canada. The group’s leader, Mitch Sylvestre, claims that there is an "organized" Canada-wide effort to stifle his group’s ambitions of making the province independent. Sylvestre says that at least 25 booked meetings for his pro-sovereignty movement and the APP-sponsored Alberta First Pension Plan initiative have been cancelled due to pressure from sovereignty opponents across the country. The APP has until May 2 to gather at least 177,732 valid signatures from eligible Alberta voters to proceed to the referendum phase.
Challenges Faced by the Alberta Prosperity Project
The APP has faced numerous challenges in its efforts to promote Alberta’s independence. The group has had difficulty finding venues to meet, with many locations cancelling their bookings due to pressure from sovereignty opponents. For example, the Castor Legion Hall cancelled a meeting scheduled for January 15, and the Canadian Brewhouse in Edmonton cancelled a separatist gathering scheduled for January 12. Despite these challenges, Sylvestre says that the APP and its followers remain determined to push for Alberta’s independence. The group is able to quickly find alternative locations, and Sylvestre says that the cancellations only delay their efforts by about 12 hours.
Royal Canadian Legion’s Stance on Political Neutrality
The Royal Canadian Legion has stated that it will not host or support meetings or petition activities for any political group, including the APP and Forever Canada. The legion’s manager, Wally Genz, says that this decision is in line with the legion’s national policy requiring political neutrality. Genz notes that the legion honours the sacrifices of Canadian Armed Forces and Veterans who served to secure Canada’s sovereignty, and that the legion remains focused on remembrance, veteran support, and community service, rather than political activity. Sylvestre says that he understands and respects the legion’s decision, and that he has no problem with it.
Pro-Canada Forces Preparing for Potential Referendum
Pro-Canada forces, including the Forever Canada petition movement, are busy organizing and preparing for a potential referendum call by the provincial government this fall. The movement’s leader, Thomas Lukaszuk, says that the group has just finished recognizing its volunteers and has sent out over 6,000 certificates to thank them for their work. Lukaszuk says that the thousands of volunteers will soon be mobilized following the launch of the referendum campaign, which is expected to be one of the biggest campaigns in the history of the province. The group has already begun fundraising and is identifying sources of funding to support its efforts.
Conclusion and Next Steps
In conclusion, the Alberta Prosperity Project is facing significant challenges in its efforts to promote Alberta’s independence. Despite the cancellations and opposition, the group remains determined to push for independence. Pro-Canada forces, including the Forever Canada petition movement, are preparing for a potential referendum call by the provincial government this fall. The coming months will be crucial in determining the future of Alberta and its relationship with Canada. The APP and its followers will need to continue to push for support and signatures if they are to succeed in their efforts, while pro-Canada forces will need to mobilize their volunteers and resources to counter the APP’s efforts. Ultimately, the decision on Alberta’s future will be made by the people of Alberta, and it is uncertain what the outcome will be.
