Alberta Independence Party
Encyclopedia
The Alberta Independence Party (AIP) was a provincial party founded in Alberta
, Canada
, in 2000/1. It was dedicated to increasing the autonomy of Alberta within the Canadian confederation, in part as a response to the 2000 election
, in which the Canadian Alliance
, a party with strong western roots, was rejected by the electorate in the rest of the country, especially Ontario
, which commands 1/3 of the seats in the Canadian Parliament.
The party's founding convention in January, 2001, garnered much media attention when several prominent figures from the Canadian Alliance
attended as observers, including MPs Myron Thompson
and Darrel Stinson
, and Alberta 'senators-in-waiting' Ted Morton
and Bert Brown
. At the convention, Cory Morgan
, a 29-year old geological surveyor, was elected leader.
One of the party's first challenges was to gather enough signatures to qualify as an official party in Alberta
, which it failed to do. As a result, in Alberta general election, 2001
, its fifteen candidates were forced to stand as independents.
The party's candidates garnered a total of 7521 votes. Here is a list of their candidates, votes, and percentages.
(**Lussier began his candidacy with an AIP endorsement which was withdrawn during the course of the campaign)
The Alberta Independence Party had been the brain-child of Albertans in their 20s and 30s, and this was reflected in the youth of both its membership and executive--half of whom were below the age of 30. Differences of opinion on a variety of issues--especially whether the party should clearly back separation or merely argue greater autonomy--resulted in the break-up of the party in Dec. 2001.
Many of its members have since joined the Separation Party of Alberta
. Cory Morgan
has moved on to become an active member and supporter of the Alberta Alliance Party
, which he views as the only true "right-of-center" alternative for Albertans.
Alberta
Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, in 2000/1. It was dedicated to increasing the autonomy of Alberta within the Canadian confederation, in part as a response to the 2000 election
Canadian federal election, 2000
The 2000 Canadian federal election was held on November 27, 2000, to elect 301 Members of Parliament of the Canadian House of Commons of the 37th Parliament of Canada....
, in which the Canadian Alliance
Canadian Alliance
The Canadian Alliance , formally the Canadian Reform Conservative Alliance , was a Canadian conservative political party that existed from 2000 to 2003. The party was the successor to the Reform Party of Canada and inherited its position as the Official Opposition in the House of Commons and held...
, a party with strong western roots, was rejected by the electorate in the rest of the country, especially Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, which commands 1/3 of the seats in the Canadian Parliament.
The party's founding convention in January, 2001, garnered much media attention when several prominent figures from the Canadian Alliance
Canadian Alliance
The Canadian Alliance , formally the Canadian Reform Conservative Alliance , was a Canadian conservative political party that existed from 2000 to 2003. The party was the successor to the Reform Party of Canada and inherited its position as the Official Opposition in the House of Commons and held...
attended as observers, including MPs Myron Thompson
Myron Thompson
Myron Thompson is a former Conservative Member of Parliament in the Canadian House of Commons. He represented the riding of Wild Rose in Alberta....
and Darrel Stinson
Darrel Stinson
Darrel Stinson is a retired politician in British Columbia, Canada. He was the Member of Parliament for Okanagan—Shuswap from 1993 until the dissolution of the Canadian House of Commons for the 2006 federal election, and was a member of the Conservative Party of Canada parliamentary caucus.-...
, and Alberta 'senators-in-waiting' Ted Morton
Ted Morton
Frederick Lee Morton , known commonly as Ted Morton, is a Canadian politician and Minister of Energy for the Province of Alberta. As a Member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta he represents the constituency of Foothills-Rocky View as a Progressive Conservative...
and Bert Brown
Bert Brown
For the English footballer Bert Brown, see Sailor BrownBert Brown is a Canadian Senator and retired farmer and development consultant currently residing in Balzac, Alberta.-Early life:...
. At the convention, Cory Morgan
Cory Morgan
Cory Morgan is a politician in Alberta, Canada. He was one of the founders of the Alberta Independence Party in 2000 and led the party into an election later that year, offering himself as a candidate in the riding of Banff-Cochrane. Following the dissolution of the AIP at the end of 2000,...
, a 29-year old geological surveyor, was elected leader.
One of the party's first challenges was to gather enough signatures to qualify as an official party in Alberta
Alberta
Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...
, which it failed to do. As a result, in Alberta general election, 2001
Alberta general election, 2001
The Alberta general election of 2001 was the twenty-fifth general election for the Province of Alberta, Canada. It was held on March 12, 2001 to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta....
, its fifteen candidates were forced to stand as independents.
The party's candidates garnered a total of 7521 votes. Here is a list of their candidates, votes, and percentages.
- Bradley R. Lang (Calgary-Egmont) 399 (2.90%)
- Tom Humble (Airdrie-Rocky View) 683 (4.10%)
- Cory MorganCory MorganCory Morgan is a politician in Alberta, Canada. He was one of the founders of the Alberta Independence Party in 2000 and led the party into an election later that year, offering himself as a candidate in the riding of Banff-Cochrane. Following the dissolution of the AIP at the end of 2000,...
(Banff-CochraneBanff-CochraneBanff-Cochrane is a provincial electoral district for the Legislative Assembly of Alberta, Canada. This riding is home to the popular tourist destination Banff National Park, environmental issues tend to dominate here....
) 538 (4.00%) - Darren Popik (Calgary ShawCalgary ShawCalgary Shaw is a provincial electoral district in Alberta, Canada. The district is one of 83 current districts mandated to return a single member to the Legislative Assembly of Alberta using the first past the post method of voting....
) 151 (0.60%) - Douglas R. Chitwood (Lacombe-Stettler) 554 (4.70%)
- Eileen Walker (Drumheller-Chinook) 819 (8.90%)
- Ron (Earl) Miller (DunveganDunvegan (electoral district)Dunvegan was a provincial electoral district in Northwestern Alberta. In 2004 the district was re-named Dunvegan-Central Peace. The district was created in 1986 from Spirit River-Fairview.-Members of the Legislative Assembly :...
,) 248 (2.80%) - Dennis Young (Grande Prairie-Smoky) 380 (4.10%)
- Terry Dueck (Grande Prairie-Wapiti) 136 (1.60%)
- Jon Koch (Little Bow) 885 (8.30%)
- Charles Park (Ponoka-Rimbey) 764 (8.10%)
- Ryan Lamarche (Red Deer-South) 203 (1.60%)
- Christopher Sutherland (Strathmore-Brooks) 511 (4.50%)
- Jeff Newland (Wainwright) 868 (8.00%)
- Ben Lussier** (Wetaskiwin-Camrose) 382 (3.00%)
(**Lussier began his candidacy with an AIP endorsement which was withdrawn during the course of the campaign)
The Alberta Independence Party had been the brain-child of Albertans in their 20s and 30s, and this was reflected in the youth of both its membership and executive--half of whom were below the age of 30. Differences of opinion on a variety of issues--especially whether the party should clearly back separation or merely argue greater autonomy--resulted in the break-up of the party in Dec. 2001.
Many of its members have since joined the Separation Party of Alberta
Separation Party of Alberta
The Separation Party of Alberta is a political party that advocates the secession of Alberta from Canada. Its leader is Bruce Hutton.-History:...
. Cory Morgan
Cory Morgan
Cory Morgan is a politician in Alberta, Canada. He was one of the founders of the Alberta Independence Party in 2000 and led the party into an election later that year, offering himself as a candidate in the riding of Banff-Cochrane. Following the dissolution of the AIP at the end of 2000,...
has moved on to become an active member and supporter of the Alberta Alliance Party
Alberta Alliance Party
The Alberta Alliance was a right wing provincial political party in Alberta, Canada. Many of its members were former supporters of the now-defunct Canadian Alliance federal political party and its predecessor, the Reform Party of Canada. Members also joined from such other provincial fringe parties...
, which he views as the only true "right-of-center" alternative for Albertans.