Mitch Sylvestre

Okay.

Mitch Sylvestre is scheduled to join us in just a few minutes.

He was supposed to be on the morning show immediately following Thomas Lukasik, but for whatever reason, that didn't happen.

So we're going to get him on in just a couple of minutes.

Thank you very much.

Dr. Melanee Thomas, political science professor, University of Calgary.

Okay, we're trying to line up Mitch Sylvestre.

Bit of a make good.

In the summer of 2025, pro-separation groups quickly mobilized.

In fact, one of the leaders of the pro-independence group, Alberta Prosperity Project, Mitch Sylvestre, called it a big gift.

Yeah, 'cause it certainly makes it easier for folks to get that petition and those petitions to that level.

Mm-hmm.

Mm

... that's due to kick in on July 4, 2025.

Mitch Sylvestre, the guy from the pro-separatist group, Alberta Prosperity Project, says as soon as it takes effect, they're gonna begin circulating a separation petition asking people if they want Alberta to be independent.

So, they'd have to get that lower number of signatures for it to be submitted.

The premier is actively fighting for the soul of the party to be on her side.

We start in Bonneville, just a couple of hours north of Edmonton, where reporter Julia Wong spent time with separatist leader Mitch Sylvestre.

Hi, Julia.

Hello, Kathleen.

There's a community center there that not only hosts the town's Junior A hockey team, but also it hosts the farmer's market as well.

And it's on that main drag where Sylvester has his sporting goods store.

And this store really encapsulates the type of person that Mitch Sylvestre is.

I think at one point I asked him, is this store just you? And he said, yes, you know, he's Sylvester.

Uh, honored to have you back, man, to have some talks about what's going on with the Alberta Independence Movement.

Uh, first and foremost, Mitch is the CEO of the Alberta Prosperity Project and Stay Free Alberta.

You might remember him as the proponent for the citizens-led initiative, the question, right? Do you believe that the province of Alberta should cease to be a part of Canada and become an independent state? That question's been ingrained in me, right? 'Cause I was a canvasser right back in those days, so [laughs]-

Well, thanks for that

Why are they not happy? 'Cause when they-

Yeah

... headhunted me to become CEO of APP, um, you know, we were, we were discussing the fact that, you know, they knew who I was.

Uh, they-

Now, the idea that Canada hasn't worked for Indigenous people is probably one of the few things that everyone can agree on, even separatists.

When I spoke with Mitch Sylvestre, here's how he put it.

And I, and I've been to court.

I've w- watched Justice Feasby, uh, you know, conduct court, and I think, actually, that the federal government is using Aboriginal people, again, as a foil to get their agenda through.

And so we're having to undo all of that, and I think that's really apparent in his statement.

That's really about his ignorance, his lack of relationality with indigenous people, his lack of understanding of treaty, and his privilege.

I'm gonna play a clip from Mitch Sylvestre.

He has created a petition to try to separate, uh, push the question to referendum.

There you go.

Mitch Sylvestre, head of the, uh, APP.

We've talked about that in the past.

Some of the people behind this movement are the main leaders, Jeffrey Rath, Mitch Sylvestre, David Parker, uh, right-wing libertarians that wanna privatize, cut corporate taxes, um, you know, attack the unions.

Um, that should be easy to fight against, 'cause most working-class people hate that.

Not to mention that they've discredited themselves, like, on several occasions by leaking-