Alberta separatists slam Poilievre for declaring himself a 'Canadian patriot' opposed to secession

OTTAWA — Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre was slammed by several separatist opponents in the province Monday after he said that the province should stay part of Canada, no matter what. “Pierre Poilievre and the federal Conservatives want Albertan votes but not Albertan autonomy. Saying Alberta should stay no matter what shows exactly how little respect they have for the province’s right to chart its own path,” said Michael Harris, the Libertarian candidate challenging Poilievre in next month’s Battle River—Crowfoot byelection. “That’s not unity, that’s control,” Harris said. The Calgary-born Poilievre reiterated his belief in Alberta federalism at a press conference in Ottawa on Monday. “Well, I disagree with separation. I’m a Canadian patriot (and) there’s no other country in the world where someone of my modest origins would be able to make it,” said Poilievre. Poilievre was responding after he took part in a CBC interview on the weekend and said Alberta should stay in Canada even if the Liberals continue to hold power in Ottawa. Grant Abraham is another candidate challenging Poilievre in August’s byelection. The leader of the United Party of Canada, which advocates for provinces standing up against federal power, Abraham said Poilievre is likely underestimating the level of unrest in Alberta. “I mean so much of Alberta is so fed up with paying money to Quebec and Ontario in the form of equalization payments … Alberta hasn’t seen any money back from that since the 1960s,” said Abraham. Harris and Abraham both think there should be a referendum on Alberta independence next year. Abraham says he’d vote “yes” if a referendum on the province’s independence were held tomorrow, if only to wake Ottawa up to the reality of western unrest. Republican Party of Alberta Leader Cameron Davies, who ran provincially last month in an overlapping riding, said he thinks Poilievre will face a rude awakening himself at the doors of Battle River—Crowfoot as he campaigns for the seat recently vacated by Conservative MP Damien Kurek. “I can tell you in the part of the riding that overlaps with Mr. Poilievre’s newfound home … that there is 30 per cent plus support, if not greater, for Alberta independence,” said Davies. In the provincial race, Davies won just under 18 per cent of the vote, with most of his support coming at the expense of Alberta’s governing United Conservative Party. Jeff Rath, a lawyer with the pro-independence Alberta Prosperity Project, said that Poilievre’s comments about Alberta staying in Canada show just how “irrelevant” he’s become to both the country and the province. “He just can’t read the room,” said Rath. Rath said Poilievre hurt his credibility with Albertans by not taking the opportunity to say that he would abide by the results of a referendum on independence, as Premier Danielle Smith has repeatedly said she would. He added that Poilievre’s continued support for the federal equalization program and supply management will be a “tough sell” with voters in the riding. Poilievre also rankled some conservative Albertans during the CBC interview with his defence of supply management for egg and dairy farmers, which has become a trade irritant with the U.S. Trump administration, saying it pales in comparison to the “tens if not hundreds of billions” U.S. farmers get in subsidies. “Poilievre is saying that we’re going to continue to stick our thumb in the eye of our biggest trade partner to protect the Quebec dairy cartel … he’s not protecting the interests of Albertans,” said Rath. Brad Wohlgemuth, a resident of Stettler, Alta., who plans to vote in the byelection, says he’s been disappointed by how carefully managed Poilievre’s campaign events have been so far. Wohlgemuth said that he and other attendees of a Conservative town hall on Friday were asked to submit written questions in advance, and were not given an opportunity to ask questions from the floor. “We want to test somebody out to see whether they can handle the tough questions,” said Wohlgemuth. “Just shoot from the hip, man. That’s what we’re looking for in these parts.” Poilievre said in his press conference on Monday that he understood why Albertans were so upset. “We have to put a final end to this notion that Ottawa tells Alberta to pay up and shut up,” said Poilievre. National Post rmohamed@postmedia.com

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