Jul 12 2004
Separation politicians gear up for Alberta election

By susan zielinski
Advocate staff

Rocky Mountain House resident Bruce Hutton will lead the Separation Party of Alberta into a provincial election if it's called before the end of the year.

The interim leader said he recognizes the thought of Alberta separating from Canada still makes a lot of people "squirm."

But Canada has an "out of control" bureaucracy that Canadians can't afford, said Hutton, who is semi-retired from promotional work.

"This isn't selfish. It's just good business sense," said the once proud Canadian.

Alberta must hang on to all of its oil and gas revenue or 30 to 100 years down the line it will become one of the have-not provinces, he said.

Alternative energy elsewhere is growing strong, meanwhile Premier Ralph Klein continues to put "all the eggs in the oil and gas basket" and has ignored other sectors of the economy, Hutton said.

"We're going to be in a terrible situation when oil and gas are depleted."

In 2003, $11.1 billion in oil and gas revenue went to Ottawa, he added.

"That's the net cost of being Canadian."

The other political parties registered in Alberta all want to facilitate change within confederation. Not even the development of a firewall others talk about to prevent federal intrusion into provincial jurisdiction would stop the economic drain on Alberta, Hutton said.

"We are the only separatist party," Hutton said. "They talk about the short term. We want Alberta to survive the long term."

The federal government isn't living up to its commitment to fund 50 per cent of health care costs, the national gun registry was never necessary, and the Kyoto Accord will devastate Alberta's oil and gas industry, he said.

"Nothing is going to change. Albertans are disgruntled. They're not happy. But they don't know why."

Keeping billions in oil and gas revenue out of federal coffers would give Alberta the funds to become a leader in health and research, boost social programming and diversify its economy, Hutton said.

If other Western provinces join Alberta, interprovincial trade barriers could be eliminated for the good of all their economies, he added. Even if Alberta had to go it alone, Hutton expects the U.S. would help out because Albert sells the U.S. 17 per cent of its gas and oil.

That means Alberta wouldn't need its own army, he said.

The Separation Party has between 200 and 300 members, with most of the support in East Central Alberta, from Lloydminster down to Hanna, according to Hutton.

"That's primarily farm. It's pretty easy to see why they're upset."

Support is also growing in Calgary, he added.

Separation members are working to organize in 19 constituencies. Rocky Mountain House area members will put an executive in place on Wednesday.

Hutton said Klein would win "hands down" in a fall election, but the Separation Party will run quality candidates, rather than trying to run in all the constituencies.

And it will stay the course until the 2010 election, he added.