A referendum on Alberta's independence from Canada has been on everyone's mind lately. On this episode of the podcast, we talk to Jeff Rath, co-founder of the Alberta Prosperity Project, about why a referendum should be held on the matter.
00:01:54.700I mean, I think the only way that Danielle or any of her cabinet ministers can win a debate on Alberta independence is if they cut off our mic, right?
00:02:02.880You know, the math and the economics of Alberta leaving Canada are so strong.
00:02:08.760There is not a valid argument for keeping Alberta within Canada.
00:02:12.100And you notice that in all of her remarks today that, you know, that Danielle didn't have a single good reason for Alberta staying in Canada
00:02:20.100other than we need to work with our fellow Canadians who've been screwing us for years, right?
00:02:25.400So, you know, I'm, you know, I was really disappointed in her speech today and I don't think she got the message last night.
00:02:31.820Yeah, I was going to ask you, do you feel like there's any sort of gamesmanship happening here with where she's trying to maybe play both sides?
00:02:38.500Or what is your feeling on her personal opinion on the matter?
00:03:03.720Like, you never know what side she's on from day to day.
00:03:06.260So does the response that you saw from your question yesterday and the response online, does that give you more hope for the future of a successful referendum?
00:03:14.120Well, I mean, we had a huge rally out front of the Alberta legislature and Danielle was hiding in her office and couldn't come out and speak to us, right?
00:03:20.600So, you know, when you have, you know, 15,000 to 20,000 people show up on the steps of the ledge and then when you have, you know, an almost unanimous room stand up and applaud for independence at a UCP AGM, you know, Danielle's not getting the message.
00:03:35.340Like, we don't want any more Mark Carney in Alberta.
00:03:38.440We don't want any more photo ops where, you know, after Mark Carney signs a document, the ink that isn't dry on, he goes out and gleefully announces a 600% increase in federal industrial carbon tax.
00:03:51.780I mean, the Financial Post has put the cost of that MOU that Danielle's so proud of at $6 to $10 a barrel of added production costs.
00:04:03.120They say it's going to create new investment.
00:04:04.660How is adding $6 to $10 a barrel to production costs of some of the most expensive oil in the world going to add to increased economic activity in Alberta?
00:04:15.540Why would anybody come to Alberta with a 600% increase in carbon tax looming when they can go drill in Texas or drill in lands that have just been opened up by President Trump in Alaska?
00:04:25.180I mean, these people are delusional if they think that that MOU they signed yesterday is good for the Alberta oil patch.
00:04:30.660Last question, Jeff. Does the APP have any upcoming events that you want people to know about?
00:04:35.440You know what? I've kind of lost track because we've been very focused on getting a board of directors elected at this meeting.
00:04:41.620But every week, I mean, we've got events somewhere in the province.
00:04:44.460So go to albertaprosperityproject.com.
00:04:47.460Check out how you can get involved, how you can volunteer, how you can join APP,
00:04:50.880how you can pre-register to sign a referendum, to vote in a referendum or provide a signature on a petition to have a referendum on the question,
00:05:01.460do you agree that Alberta shall become a sovereign country and cease to be a province in Canada?
00:05:06.100Because that's the only issue we need to be discussing today.
00:05:09.000Thank you, sir. I really appreciate what you're doing.
00:05:10.440My pleasure. Thank you very much for talking to me.