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PRESS RELEASE - Saturday, April 03, 2004 at 12:10

PRESS RELEASE

Separation Party of Alberta offers it's support to the Western Independence Party of Saskatchewan.

MELVILLE, SK: A new force has burst on to the Saskatchewan political scene , one which promises to finally put an end to that province's estrangement from the federal government and alienation from the rest of the Confederation. The Western Independence Party of Saskatchewan (WIP), who believe the welfare of the people of Saskatchewan would be best served in an Independent Western Canada, gained official party status only weeks prior to the 2003 Saskatchewan provincial election. As a follow up to their successful registration drive and election campaign, the WIP held their inaugural convention from March 12th to the 14th in Melville, a community of 4,500 people east of Regina.

The theme of the Western Independence Party's inaugural convention was "Share The Vision". In the spirit of this pan-western theme, members of the executive committee of the Separation Party of Alberta (SPA), which promotes the secession of the province of Alberta from the Canadian Confederation, were in attendance to lend their support.

In a show of solidarity between independence-minded residents of Alberta and Saskatchewan, Bruce Hutton, interim leader of the Separation Party of Alberta was invited to address the gathering of western separatists, lending his movement's support to their endeavors.

"We are separate entities with a common goal. We both want to do what is in the best interest of the people of our respective provinces," stated Hutton. "We are natural allies against the ongoing economic plundering of the west perpetrated by Ottawa and Central Canada. We will form strategic  alliances to assist one another to attain our goals."

Former Grande Prairie, Alberta mayor and SPA executive Al Romanchuk

feels the Western Independence Party is a positive force for achieving economic and democratic reform for the people of Saskatchewan.

"For countless years we have pleaded to be let in as equal partners in Confederation. Our pleas have gone unanswered. We are out and now we want to stay out. We applaud the capable leadership of Bruce Ritter and all the members of the Western Independence Party of Saskatchewan and pledge our unequivocal support."

This meeting occurs as support for both movements is on the rise. The Separation Party of Alberta, having concluded a series of very successful town hall meetings across the province of Alberta, has experienced a groundswell of support amongst Albertans from all walks of life. The support for a movement that puts Albertans first has been overwhelming, and this bodes well for the SPA as they move one step closer towards gaining official party status.

Meanwhile in Saskatchewan, recent surveys have shown that the residents of Saskatchewan are among the most dissatisfied in Confederation. The most recent poll on the subject by Ekos research indicated that twenty-three per cent of Saskatchewanians "would not be too concerned if their province joined the United States". This is certainly not a vote of confidence in

Confederation from one in four people in the province. A confident and well-organized Western Independence Party of Saskatchewan will no doubt put the people of Saskatchewan on the right track towards independence.

Separation Party of Alberta
Box 31074
Edmonton, Ab
T5Z 3P3

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