Separatist group takes motorhome to northwestern Alberta to talk independence
Pro-independence supporters express concerns about economy, lack of say in Canada
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supporters → take → Canada
The Let’s Talk Alberta motorhome makes a slow turn off Highway 2 into the parking lot of the Dunvegan Inn in Fairview, Alta., on a sunny mid-September morning.
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motorhome → let → morning
The rig, which is running late, is met by a contingent of local people who stroll across the parking lot to meet the folks inside.
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who → run → folks
People involved with the grassroots pro-independence organization have been touring around Alberta ahead of the province’s Oct. 19 referendum, which will include a question on whether Alberta should remain a part of Canada or hold a binding vote on separation.
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Alberta → involve → separation
Neil Hart, a retired Fairview resident, came to meet the Let’s Talk Alberta motorhome.
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’s → come → motorhome
Hart said he wanted to pick up more signs in support of Alberta independence and explained he’s helped put up the large ones along the highways that lead out of the town located about 115 kilometres north of Grande Prairie.
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that → say → Prairie
“When you’re headed towards Grimshaw, you see the one sign up on the granary,” Hart said.
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Hart → head → granary
“I have one on the south side of the road and there's another one just when you leave town, down on the side there, 8-by-16s.
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you → have → side
They look good.”
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They → look → ?
Hart, 68, said he used to work as a heavy duty mechanic, then farmed for 25 years.
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he → say → years
He also founded a company that provided mulching services in the oilpatch.
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that → found → oilpatch
He said he wants Alberta to become its own nation because he wants to see younger generations have a chance at getting what he calls “real jobs, real careers” like he had when he first entered the workforce 50 years ago.
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he → say → workforce
“I'm done.
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I → do → ?
I'm retired,” Hart said.
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Hart → retire → ?
They need a chance.”
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They → need → chance
He said there was once plenty of work in the area but that’s changed.
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that → say → area
According to Hart, Fairview is turning into a “retirement town” and he’s urging his children and grandchildren to move.
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he → accord → children
They got to leave,” Hart said.
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Hart → got → ?
“I keep telling them, ‘Sorry kids, there’s no sense staying here.
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I → tell → them
You got to at least get to Grande Prairie.’
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You → got → Prairie
Things are happening in Grande Prairie.”
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Things → happen → Prairie
Hart’s reasons for wanting to leave Canada were repeated by others who came to meet the motorhome belonging to Chris Scott, the founder of Let’s Talk Alberta.
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who → want → Alberta
People said they feel they pay taxes to the federal government and get little in return.
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they → say → return
Others pointed to how federal elections appear to be settled before Albertans finish casting their ballots as evidence of how little influence the province has over policies that are crafted in Ottawa.
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that → point → Ottawa
Few new faces at meeting
Fairview was just one of the stops that the Let’s Talk Alberta motorhome made in northern Alberta this month.
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motorhome → talk → Alberta
Members of the group also held a town hall at a hotel in Grande Prairie.
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Members → hold → Prairie
About 200 people showed up for the three-hour event, which featured presentations from Keith Wilson, a constitutional lawyer and co-founder of the pro-independence group Let Alberta Decide, Benoit Trudeau, a self-described sovereigntist and author based in central Alberta, and Scott.
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which → show → Alberta
People milled about the room, chatted with each other and looked over the independence-themed hats, T-shirts, signs and bumper stickers for sale on the tables in the back of the room.
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People → mill → room
As a song called My Alberta Roots Run Deep wrapped up, Sandy Duguay with Let’s Talk Alberta welcomed people to the event.
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Duguay → call → event
She asked how many were attending their first meeting and about 10 of the 200 people in the room put up their hands.
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10 → ask → hands
“Thank you for coming,” Duguay said.
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Duguay → thank → you
“I hope you find that your time was well spent by the time you leave tonight.”
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you → hope → time
When asked about the low number of new faces, Wilson said he wasn’t bothered by it.
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he → ask → it
“I don't use … [a town hall] as a gauge of support,” he said.
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he → use → support
“I use it as an opportunity to answer questions.
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I → use → questions
“And I use it as an opportunity to share with the people who do support independence ideas on how they can communicate and have open dialogue with others who don't.”
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who → use → others
A new report on the financial cost of separating from Canada — completed by the University of Calgary’s School of Public Policy and commissioned by the Alberta government — was a point of discussion at the town hall.
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report → separate → hall
The report estimates the cost of Alberta separation could be as much as $170 billion over just the first five years of independence.
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cost → estimate → independence
Scott took issue with the report’s focus on the costs of separation without describing the potential benefits that he called “priceless.”
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he → take → that
“How many people in this room would have paid that much extra tax to know that when we go to the ballot as Albertans, our voices will be heard and we can affect the outcome of the election?”
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we → pay → election
…and 44 more, not listed.
The Aporia
