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By Chris Brown

Free Alberta Strategy

Local MLA part of group pushing for Alberta sovereignty

Sep 29, 2021 | 11:25 AM

Cypress-Medicine Hat MLA Drew Barnes is one of four MLAs calling on Premier Jason Kenney to make Alberta a sovereign jurisdiction within Canada.

In prepared remarks during an online announcement for the Free Alberta Strategy, Barnes said that when it comes to Alberta’s mistreatment within confederation there are a lot of people in power who don’t appreciate or like hearing the truth.

He recalled what he termed a “group of patriots” who 21 years ago provided a blueprint for change. The group was led by former prime minister Stephen Harper and the blueprint became known as the “firewall letter.”

“Mr. Harper recognized something that we’ve come to understand all too well,” said Barnes, who sits as an Independent MLA. “The fact is that those who benefit from Alberta’s mistreatment will never, never, willingly rectify Alberta’s mistreatment.”

Barnes said many if not all of the issues raised in the firewall letter still exist. He said Harper and the rest tried but “at the end of the day failed to understand the extent to which the game is rigged against Alberta families and communities.”

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He added they need to change the game and the game plan this time.

“We need to get tough and provide real consequences for Justin Trudeau, Ottawa, the eastern elite who treat our province unfairly as just a scapegoat and a piggy bank.”

The Free Alberta Strategy was co-authored by former Airdrie MLA Rob Anderson, Barry Cooper, a University of Calgary political scientist, and constitutional lawyer Derek From.

United Conservative MLAs Angela Pitt and Jason Stephan as well as Independent MLA Todd Loewen also took part in the Free Alberta Strategy announcement.

Rob Anderson said that Alberta’s treatment within Canada has become intolerable.

“Successive federal governments in Ottawa have relentlessly attacked our province’s economic interests, stifled our prosperity and pillaged the resource and wealth of Alberta’s citizens to purchase electoral support in other parts of the country,” he said. “The Ottawa anti-Alberta agenda has advanced a bridge too far.”