Separation Party of Alberta
Encyclopedia
The Separation Party of Alberta is a political party
that advocates the secession
of Alberta
from Canada
. Its leader is Bruce Hutton
.
in June 2004 and changed the party name. The party fielded 12 candidates in the provincial election
, held on November 22, 2004. These candidates won a total of 4,680 votes, or 0.5% of the popular vote in the province. Here are the candidates, their ridings, votes and percentages:
The Separation Party is not the first separatist party to make a foray into Albertan politics. The Western Canada Concept
achieved modest success in the early 1980s, even winning a by-election
in 1982. The WCC's popularity declined before the end of the decade. The Alberta Independence Party
ran 14 candidates in the 2001 general election
, but these candidates were designated as independents because the party had not been registered with Elections Alberta. The AIP eventually disbanded.
The Separation Party has informal ties with the Western Independence Party of Saskatchewan
and its website includes links to the website of that party. The Separation Party is not affiliated to the Western Canada Concept Party of British Columbia
or the British Columbia
-based Western Block Party
and has distanced itself from Doug Christie
, the controversial leader of those parties.
The party managed to field just one candidate, its leader, for the March 3 2008 Alberta general election. Hutton placed last out of a field of seven candidates in Rocky Mountain House
, capturing just 1.21% of the vote.
Political party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
that advocates the secession
Separatism
Separatism is the advocacy of a state of cultural, ethnic, tribal, religious, racial, governmental or gender separation from the larger group. While it often refers to full political secession, separatist groups may seek nothing more than greater autonomy...
of 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...
from 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...
. Its leader is Bruce Hutton
Bruce Hutton
Bruce Hutton is leader of the Separation Party of Alberta.Hutton joined the Royal Canadian Mounted Police in 1963. In 1999, he founded Law-abiding Unregistered Firearms Association to protest the recently introduced federal gun registry. In 2004, he became leader of the Separation...
.
History
The party took over the rights of the inactive Alberta First PartyAlberta First Party
The Alberta First Party was a right-wing political party that operated in Alberta, Canada from 1999 until 2003. It was founded by former members of the Social Credit Party of Alberta. The party was registered with Elections Alberta on November 2, 1999...
in June 2004 and changed the party name. The party fielded 12 candidates in the provincial election
Alberta general election, 2004
The Alberta general election of 2004 was the twenty-sixth general election for the province of Alberta, Canada. It was held on November 22, 2004 to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta....
, held on November 22, 2004. These candidates won a total of 4,680 votes, or 0.5% of the popular vote in the province. Here are the candidates, their ridings, votes and percentages:
- Calgary-FortCalgary FortCalgary Fort is a provincial electoral district for the Legislative Assembly of Alberta, Canada.The Electoral District is named after historical Fort Calgary.The district lies in the Central SE of the city....
, Leo Ollenberger, 212 (2.7%) - 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....
, Daniel Doher, 171 (1.6%) - Airdrie-ChestermereAirdrie-ChestermereAirdrie-Chestermere is a provincial electoral district in Alberta, Canada. It is mandated to return a single member to the Legislative Assembly of Alberta using the first past the post method of voting....
, Bob Lefurgey, 394 (3.3%) - Drumheller-StettlerDrumheller-StettlerDrumheller-Stettler is a provincial electoral district in Alberta, Canada. The electoral district is mandated to return a single member to the Legislative Assembly of Alberta using the first past the post method of voting...
, David Carnegie, 465 (4.5%) - HighwoodHighwood (electoral district)Highwood is a provincial electoral district in southern Alberta, Canada. The district is one of 83 in the province mandated to return a single member to the Legislative Assembly of Alberta using the first past the post method of voting....
, 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,...
, 299 (2.8%) - Little Bow, Grant Shaw, 432 (4.8%)
- Livingstone-MacleodLivingstone-MacleodLivingstone-Macleod is a provincial electoral district in Alberta, Canada. The district is one of 83 current districts in the province mandated to return a single member to the Legislative Assembly of Alberta using the first past the post method of voting....
, Jim Walker, 339 (3.4%) - Olds-Didsbury-Three HillsOlds-Didsbury-Three HillsOlds-Didsbury-Three Hills is a provincial electoral district for the Legislative Assembly of Alberta, Canada.It contains the Kneehill County and most of Mountain View County....
, Brian Vasseur, 746 (6.1%) - Red Deer-SouthRed Deer SouthRed Deer South is a provincial electoral district for the Legislative Assembly of Alberta, Canada.The district was created from Red Deer in 1986....
, Judy Milne, 261 (2.2%) - Rocky Mountain House, Bruce HuttonBruce HuttonBruce Hutton is leader of the Separation Party of Alberta.Hutton joined the Royal Canadian Mounted Police in 1963. In 1999, he founded Law-abiding Unregistered Firearms Association to protest the recently introduced federal gun registry. In 2004, he became leader of the Separation...
, 505 (4.9%) - StrathconaStrathconaStrathcona is an 19th century variation of "Glen Coe", a river valley in Scotland. The word was invented for use in the title Baron Strathcona and Mount Royal, first used for Donald Smith, a Canadian railway financier, in order to avoid association with the Massacre of Glencoe of 1692...
, Roberta McDonald, 297 (2.1%) - Strathmore-BrooksStrathmore-BrooksStrathmore-Brooks is a provincial electoral district for the Legislative Assembly of Alberta, Canada.-Boundary history:-Members of the Legislative Assembly:-2004 general election:-2004 Senate nominee election district results:...
, Jay Kolody, 559 (6.1%)
The Separation Party is not the first separatist party to make a foray into Albertan politics. The Western Canada Concept
Western Canada Concept
The Western Canada Concept was a Western Canadian political party founded in 1980 to promote the separation of the provinces of Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia and the Yukon and Northwest Territories from Canada in order to create a new nation.The party argued that Western...
achieved modest success in the early 1980s, even winning a by-election
By-election
A by-election is an election held to fill a political office that has become vacant between regularly scheduled elections....
in 1982. The WCC's popularity declined before the end of the decade. The Alberta Independence Party
Alberta Independence Party
The Alberta Independence Party 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...
ran 14 candidates in the 2001 general election
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....
, but these candidates were designated as independents because the party had not been registered with Elections Alberta. The AIP eventually disbanded.
The Separation Party has informal ties with the Western Independence Party of Saskatchewan
Western Independence Party of Saskatchewan
The Western Independence Party of Saskatchewan is a provincial political party in Saskatchewan, Canada. It advocates the independence of Saskatchewan, and the formation of a new country. It is not affiliated with any federal party...
and its website includes links to the website of that party. The Separation Party is not affiliated to the Western Canada Concept Party of British Columbia
Western Canada Concept Party of British Columbia
The Western Canada Concept Party of BC is a provincial political party in British Columbia, Canada. It was the British Columbia branch of the Western Canada Concept, a political party that operated at the federal level, advocating the separation of the four western provinces of Canada and the...
or the British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
-based Western Block Party
Western Block Party
The Western Block Party is a political party in Canada founded in 2005 by Doug Christie. The party became officially registered on December 29, 2005....
and has distanced itself from Doug Christie
Doug Christie (lawyer)
Douglas Hewson "Doug" Christie, Jr. is a Canadian lawyer and far-right political activist based in Victoria, British Columbia.-Career:...
, the controversial leader of those parties.
Recent challenges
Serious disagreements within the party membership led to a showdown at a party meeting on October 29, 2005. One group voted out the President and the Board of Directors, who in turn refused to recognize the vote, claiming that it was unconstitutional. As a result, the party runs the risk of being de-registered by the province. A party convention was held March 25, 2006 to resolve these issues.The party managed to field just one candidate, its leader, for the March 3 2008 Alberta general election. Hutton placed last out of a field of seven candidates in Rocky Mountain House
Rocky Mountain House (electoral district)
Rocky Mountain House 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 since 1959...
, capturing just 1.21% of the vote.
See also
- Alberta separatismAlberta separatismAlberta separatism is a movement that advocates the secession of the province of Alberta from Canada either by forming an independent nation, or by creating a new federation with one or more of Canada's other three westernmost provinces.-Foundations:...
- List of Alberta political parties