Separatist party claims 11 UCP MLAs support a binding independence referendum
The Republican Party of Alberta, which is open to joining the U.S., is keeping a scorecard of whether MLAs support an independence referendum before the next election.
The separatist Republican Party of Alberta claims that 11 UCP MLAs, five of whom are Cabinet ministers, support a binding independence referendum before the provincial next election.
The group has compiled a scorecard of each Alberta MLA’s stand on calling an independence referendum and promises to initiate a recall against any MLA that doesn’t.
In an email, party president Brittany Marsh admitted that her party “did not issue a formal questionnaire” to MLAs, but rather based the report card on “public statements — whether in the legislature, in interviews, or on social media — that we interpreted as showing support for a referendum on Alberta’s independence or, at minimum, support for Alberta’s right to hold one.”
“If any MLA believes they’ve been identified in error, they are welcome to publicly clarify their position — and we’ll gladly update the record [emphasis in original],” said Marsh.
Notably absent from that list is Premier Danielle Smith, who recently said that she has no intention of initiating a referendum on separation, but won’t stand in the way of a citizen-initiated one.
Alberta’s Republican Party doesn’t only support a referendum on independence. The group seeks an additional referendum “to gauge the will of Albertans to seek U.S. statehood or territorial status,” which Marsh clarified would only occur in the event of a successful referendum in favour of independence and would be merely advisory.
The allegedly pro-independence referendum MLAs are:
Eric Bouchard (Calgary-Lougheed)
Scott Cyr (Bonnyville-Cold Lake-St. Paul)
Minister of Transportation Devin Dreeshen (Innisfail-Sylvan Lake)
Shane Getson (Lac Ste. Anne-Parkland)
Jennifer Johnson (Lacombe-Ponoka)
Minister of Infrastructure Martin Long (West Yellowhead)
Minister of Municipal Affairs Ric McIver (Calgary-Hays)
Minister of Service Alberta and Red Tape Reduction Dale Nally (Morinville-St. Albert)
Chelsae Petrovic (Livingstone-Macleod)
Angela Pitt (Airdrie-East)
Minister of Advanced Education Rajan Sawhney (Calgary-North West)
Some of these names are less surprising than others.
Dreeshen infamously went down to the U.S. to campaign for Donald Trump in the 2016 election, and attended his second inauguration in January as a private citizen.
Johnson wasn’t initially allowed to sit in the UCP caucus after she compared transgender kids to baking cookies with feces.
In a 2023 podcast interview, Petrovic said that heart attack victims should take personal responsibility.
Bouchard, who represents Jason Kenney’s old riding, wants to ban Covid vaccines.
But McIver and Sawhney, in addition to being in charge of major Cabinet portfolios, are commonly regarded as relative moderates.
The Orchard reached out to each MLA to confirm that they support a binding independence referendum and inquire why they think now is the appropriate time for one.
None responded by deadline, although Bouchard’s staff acknowledged they received the inquiry. Nally’s office responded with “Fyi,” presumably intended as a forward and not a reply.
The Red Deer-based Republican Party of Alberta, formerly known as the Buffalo Party, is a registered political party with Elections Alberta. The party changed its name in February, as Republican U.S. president Donald Trump’s annexationist threats grew louder.
Interim leader Andrew Jacobson was the Buffalo Party’s only candidate in the 2023 provincial election, running against then-NDP leader Rachel Notley in Edmonton-Strathcona.
Marsh is listed as the CFO of the 1905 Committee, a third-party advertiser (TPA) that received $25,000 in 2024 from former Take Back Alberta CFO Marco Van Huigenbos, who recently ended his jail sentence for his involvement in the Coutts blockade.
The 1905 Committee, which was recently deregistered as a TPA, unsuccessfully attempted to mobilize UCP members against Premier Smith at the UCP AGM in November 2024.
Marsh said that the Alberta Republicans intend on running a “credible, well-prepared slate of candidates in 2027.”
This piece has been updated with comment from Republican Party of Alberta president Brittany Marsh.
It will be interesting to look into some of the travel costs of these folks, are taxpayers funding some of the connections? We certainly have funded travel to Prayer Breakfasts in the U.S., although attendees are quick to point out the time was personal (do travel and accommadation get prorated?)