By Charles Lefebvre

Alberta Independence Party running candidate in Brooks-Medicine Hat

Mar 26, 2019 | 3:55 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB — The Alberta Independence Party is running a candidate in Medicine Hat.

Collin Pacholek will be representing the party on the ballot in Brooks-Medicine Hat for the April 16 election.

“Basically, there was nobody on the ballot I wanted to vote for,” Pacholek said on Tuesday. “When I found out about the Alberta Independence Party, and they were looking for MLAs, once reading their policies, and what they’re about, I thought it was a good, just cause to go forward.”

The party’s primary goal, if elected, is to hold a referendum to separate Alberta from Canada, which they say will be done within four months.

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Pacholek says the interest in Alberta separation is growing.

“I think there is a growing unrest among Albertans,” he said. “You see more of the protests going on, the drive to Ottawa, people are unhappy. From me speaking with people, and talking with them about this, a lot of people are in the same mind. They’d rather throw their vote away, or not vote at all, than vote for what they have for current options.

He says the party wants to get back to listening to the concerns of Albertans.

“People are just tired of the way things are going, that government’s agendas are based on what they want to do,” he said. “Nobody is listening to the Alberta public anymore, and that’s where we have to get back to listening to Albertans. What does Alberta want? what does Alberta need? And that’s how we’re going to be prosperous, if we’re a government of the people, for the people, once again.”

The Alberta Independence Party is on the ballot for the first time in the election, and is currently running candidates in 57 ridings across the province, according to Elections Alberta on Wednesday. Under the Election Finances and Contributions Disclosures Act, a party that has endorsed candidates in at least half of the electoral divisions is a registered party in Alberta.

Other parts of the party’s platform include ending the carbon tax, creating an Alberta National Police Force, and implementing a flat tax rate of 8.5 per cent for businesses. The full platform can be found here.

With Pacholek entering the race, five candidates will be on the ballot for Brooks-Medicine Hat. These include Todd Beasley (Independent), Jim Black (Alberta Party), Michaela Glasgo (United Conservative Party) and Lynn MacWilliam (NDP).

Candidates need to be registered with Elections Alberta by 2 p.m. on March 29.

Albertans go to the polls on April 16.