Sep 24, 2026 · 39 min · 9 segments
This episode features another recording from the Centre's "Alberta at the Crossroads" workshop, a one-day public event held in May 2026 on the prospect of a referendum on Alberta independence. This…
Rob Currie-WoodGuest
Lisa YoungGuest
Richard MaleyHost
I've been thinking about the independence movement since about the beginning of May last year, following it grow from a relatively small group of people to something that's now dominating our public conversation.
And as far as social movements go, the Alberta Independence Movement has a fairly typical structure.
There's a constellation of actors with varying levels of activity and some collaboration, but it's largely defined by the absence of a clear and disciplined organization, at least from my perspective as somebody who studies political parties, which are much more disciplined and organized than social movements.
And so to illustrate, the movement includes several provincial political parties that include the Independence Party of Alberta, the Wild Rose Independence Party of Alberta, the Wild Rose Loyalty Coalition, and the Republican Party of Alberta.
And the fact that there's four of them sort of illustrates that there's some fragmentation within the independence movement.
There's also a media arm of the movement that includes YouTubers and some alternative news organizations.
Both have adopted editorial positions that are publicly supporting Alberta independence.
And in fact, after the last federal election that saw the Carney liberals return to power federally, the Western Standard published an editorial saying the West wants out.
Unlike political parties, an advocacy group does not endorse candidates during elections.
It's not focused on trying to seize control of the legislature and thus the government provincially.
Instead, what they're trying to do is influence elected officials to adopt the positions that their group is advocating for.
And while there's a handful of these advocacy groups that exists, the largest and most prominent is the Alberta Prosperity Project, or the APP, which in their own words is an educational initiative focused on garnering support for a future where Alberta determines its destiny, ensuring prosperity and freedom for future generations.
The APP and its offshoot, Stay Free Alberta, which was organizing the petitioning effort that just concluded, has emerged as the dominant voice and the leading organizer within this movement.
It's headed by the CEO, Mitch Sylvester, the citizen who initiated the petition, legal counsel, Jeffrey Rath, who we might see in the news every now and then, and the chair and founder, Dr. Dennis Modry, who we don't really see much from anymore.
The APP is registered as a non-profit under the Societies Act of Alberta, and this permits the APP to raise money, to spend money, to own property, sell property, things like that.
And with a non-profit leading the call for independence, the corporate structure of the independence movement seems a bit unusual at first glance.
For instance, political parties have the constitutional and legal authority to negotiate an exit from a federation when they're in government.
Political parties also get a fair amount of public support from taxpayers, specifically through the issuing of tax rebates if you donate money.
I've been thinking about the independence movement since about the beginning of May last year, following it grow from a relatively small group of people to something that's now dominating our public conversation.
And as far as social movements go, the Alberta Independence Movement has a fairly typical structure.
There's a constellation of actors with varying levels of activity and some collaboration, but it's largely defined by the absence of a clear and disciplined organization, at least from my perspective as somebody who studies political parties, which are much more disciplined and organized than social movements.
And so to illustrate, the movement includes several provincial political parties that include the Independence Party of Alberta, the Wild Rose Independence Party of Alberta, the Wild Rose Loyalty Coalition, and the Republican Party of Alberta.
And the fact that there's four of them sort of illustrates that there's some fragmentation within the independence movement.
There's also a media arm of the movement that includes YouTubers and some alternative news organizations.
Both have adopted editorial positions that are publicly supporting Alberta independence.
And in fact, after the last federal election that saw the Carney liberals return to power federally, the Western Standard published an editorial saying the West wants out.
Unlike political parties, an advocacy group does not endorse candidates during elections.
It's not focused on trying to seize control of the legislature and thus the government provincially.
Instead, what they're trying to do is influence elected officials to adopt the positions that their group is advocating for.
And while there's a handful of these advocacy groups that exists, the largest and most prominent is the Alberta Prosperity Project, or the APP, which in their own words is an educational initiative focused on garnering support for a future where Alberta determines its destiny, ensuring prosperity and freedom for future generations.
The APP and its offshoot, Stay Free Alberta, which was organizing the petitioning effort that just concluded, has emerged as the dominant voice and the leading organizer within this movement.
It's headed by the CEO, Mitch Sylvester, the citizen who initiated the petition, legal counsel, Jeffrey Rath, who we might see in the news every now and then, and the chair and founder, Dr. Dennis Modry, who we don't really see much from anymore.
The APP is registered as a non-profit under the Societies Act of Alberta, and this permits the APP to raise money, to spend money, to own property, sell property, things like that.
And with a non-profit leading the call for independence, the corporate structure of the independence movement seems a bit unusual at first glance.
For instance, political parties have the constitutional and legal authority to negotiate an exit from a federation when they're in government.
Political parties also get a fair amount of public support from taxpayers, specifically through the issuing of tax rebates if you donate money.
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