Lost Cause

It all started with an idea. Being a proud and patriotic Albertan with a strong dislike for much of what has made Canada not-so-great, I decided to explore the little-known world of the Alberta separatists. A book was the vehicle I was intending to use in order to get some exposure on what I believed was going to be my new political home. After all, joining a ragtag group of like-minded individuals all with the same goal of Alberta independence would be a natural fit, right?

I jumped into the scene in late May, 2005. After doing some intense research, I found a few online forums where I began establishing relationships with a few insiders. My blog (as primitive as it was) was born soon after. It seemed that I was off to a great start with the contacts made. So well in fact that my focus quickly changed. Instead of a book, I wanted to contribute right away and use these tools to spread the message that not only do Alberta separatists exist, but the stereotype that federalists have of them is wrong. I wanted to prove that you could support provincial independence while being a political moderate, in contrast to the mistaken image of us as uneducated, radical right-wingers.

Now, I like to analyze and do lots of consideration before making a move, especially politically. In doing this, I looked to the provincial Separation Party of Alberta (SPA) as a natural home for someone such as myself. What I found at the time was an organization locked in a struggle between the leadership and the membership. The situation quickly deteriorated into a soap opera-like situation which made it clear to me that this is not the group by which to hitch my wagon.

Between the comedy that the SPA had become and certain independence ‘rally’ at the provincial Legislature – and considering the speakers nearly outnumbered the crowd, I use that term very lightly – I was left looking elsewhere. The so-called rally featured the ramblings of some ultra-rightwing religious nutjob who started by telling us that God hates Fags or something like that. Needless to say, I didn’t stay for the whole show.

The SPA saga didn’t end there, however. Later on a small but determined group attempted to gain control of the party with the intent of developing an actual, big tent separatist entity that would have both substance and credibility. The attempt failed, and not much has been heard from the party since.

It was at that point I discovered there was no shortage of alternatives for my support. From non-separation, pro-Alberta parties like Alberta First to the Alberta Alliance to the Wildrose Party, the splintering of the Right in Alberta gave lots of options. That is also when it became clear that the so-called Alberta independence movement was anything but unified, which is still to this day its biggest problem.

Leaving the choice of parties alone, I instead spent time trying to establish stronger ties on the internet, namely sites like Project Alberta and others. I found some real hidden treasures of knowledge and experience that gave me confidence that the movement would develop into something of substance. Remember, this was the time of the Chretien/Martin regime in Ottawa, which had been in power for so long it seemed like they were never going away. I reveled in the scene, learning all that I could while never holding my two cents back.

The initial reaction from others in the group upon my arrival was nothing short of fantastic. The idea of someone new with an inside political background and experience in writing and public relations seemed to appeal to them, and I was repeatedly asked if I was ‘going to run’ for office. I’m not saying that I was regarded as some sort of Golden Boy for the movement. It felt more like going into a meat market bar and being the fresh meat.

It was around this time that I experienced the first real indication of who I was hanging with. Asked to attend a gathering in Calgary, I had to refuse do to work issues. It seems that was all it took for the mob to turn on yours truly, as that began my spiral out of favor. All of a sudden, my ‘commitment’ to the ‘cause’ was in question. Much of the previously steady contact from others in the group started to wane; no longer was I inundated with questions about running in an election.

I must tell you that from the start of my association with these people I made it clear that I had absolutely no intention of running for office. There are others who would be much more effective (and much more elect-able). I do my best working from within, directing behind the scenes while someone else takes the face time and attention. That has always been my experience and where I am most effective. This fact still seems to elude many in the group.

I continued to exude the virtues of an independent Alberta on my ever-growing blog, but now I was re-evaluating who I was trying to associate with. Over the course of the next couple of years, I had seen many extremely qualified and valuable people shunned from the group over petty personality conflicts. Potential assets were shown the door because they weren’t ‘worthy’ of the group, or just plain abandoned because they wouldn’t play the game.

I didn’t want to name drop in this article, but in this case I will as an example. Out of the literal hundreds and hundreds of politicos I have met, none has shown more of a natural political acumen than one Alan Clark. Right when the group was on the cusp of forming a viable political party and in desperate need of leadership (if not a leader), enough people in the movement decided that they couldn’t put up with Clarks personality and effectively turned their backs on him. Many will jump in and say that Clark’s personality was too abrasive; that his ego was incompatible with the group. I maintain that he was exactly what the movement needed and they lost him because of their own childish stupidity. To take on Ottawa and withstand all of the crap that would no doubt be directed at an upstart independence movement, who would you rather have leading the charge: some Dion-esque milquetoast or someone sure of himself?

Over time my blog has transformed from being solely about Alberta independence to being wide-ranging in its content. The more I learned about the people behind the independence movement the less confident I became that the goal would ever be achieved.

With Harper’s Conservatives in power in Ottawa (and their popularity on the rise), there have been a number of defections by independence members back into federalism. Times aren’t as bad politically as they were for Alberta, and as ‘AltaInd’ so rightfully commented on my blog: “As long as the Harper government is in power Alberta separatism is dead....”

So here it is, fall of 2007. I know now that my attempt to convince those outside of the movement that you can be a social moderate and still support independence was pointless. The real struggle that I spent the majority of my time on was to convince those within the movement of that very fact. Fringe party after fringe party, BBQs and pub meetings, the wheels keep spinning but the car can’t get any momentum.

It is important to note that not all of the people involved are as described above. There are those who are astute, and who have been more than accepting including those who own and operate Project Alberta and other like-minded forums. The problem is that there are too many wannabe leaders, too many superstars, too many know-it-alls who would rather start pissing contests online than work together towards a common goal of independence. It’s the political equivalent of d-list actors all trying to tell each other how amazing they are. In this world, someone who ran and failed in a civic election believes that makes him a political genius to be revered.

So here I am: a socially moderate Alberta patriot who isn’t at home with Canada’s socialist utopia and can’t find a home within the self-important clique of the Alberta independence movement. The independence movement has become a lost cause and it had nothing to do with the federal scene, but has everything to do with the endless and pointless bickering. I have become disillusioned to the point where I cannot see the benefit of an independent Alberta if these are the people who will run the show. It would be just bad as more years of federal Liberal governance, just in different ways.

And there is one glaring difference between them and me: their cause is born out of hatred for Ottawa; mine is born out of love for Alberta.

I will continue to believe that Alberta can and must be independent. I will continue to hope for that day when we have rid ourselves of our Eastern Canadian shackles. But until we have an honest and real group of people to lead us down that path who are more willing to accept others of different political stripes and backgrounds, and will end the pointless pissing contests, deal me out.