UCP ‘not an independence party’; also not lacking members who would support one

The United Progressive Conservative caucus says it's not a separatist party and is out of touch with some of its membership.

The United Conservative Party is “absolutely not an independence party,” Rob Smith says.

But according to the president of Alberta’s largest contingent of people who lean right of centre, politically speaking, there are a lot of members who support the movement.

And he says there’s a difference.

“At no point have we had a discussion about being an independence party,” he said.

“Only at such time as a referendum were to happen where a majority of Albertans would favour independence would we consider a vote within the party that we would become an independence party.”

Rob Smith spoke with CTV News this past Friday.

It was right after Premier and Party Leader Danielle Smith added a question regarding Alberta’s independence to an October referendum.

It was not the question the province’s separatist movement wanted and collected signatures for.

That one was tossed by the courts, judged as illegal for not properly consulting First Nations.

But the new one covers the topic, albeit in a non-binding manner.

“Do we have a significant number of our members that actually favour the independence of Alberta from Canada? Absolutely, we do,” Rob Smith said Friday.

“I would say the vast majority of our members favour the question being asked.

“I don’t know if it’s the majority of our members who actually favour independence but I would say a very high percentage of our members favour the question being asked.”

‘I don’t feel that way’

Prime Minister Mark Carney says the uncertainty the separation dialogue is causing is “unhelpful for long-term investment decisions.”

But Danielle Smith says there are “about a million Albertans who are frustrated with the relationship with Ottawa.”

She says they’re frustrated “to a point where they think it’s time to file the divorce papers.”

She also says, “I don’t feel that way.”

During an appearance Wednesday on BNN Bloomberg, Danielle Smith pointed to a deal between the province and the prime minister to build pipelines.

Rob Smith says everyone wants Alberta to prosper.

But the party president says there are different ideas on how best to achieve that.

“Rural folks have a tendency to be a little bit more reluctant to believe that there is a possibility of collaboration with Ottawa,” he said.

“I think our urban membership is a little bit more inclined to believe that’s a possibility.”

‘Together is better’

Several members of the UCP government cabinet say they’ll vote to show their support for a Canada where all provinces are on-page.

“We support a sovereign Alberta within a united Canada,” said Tourism and Sport Minister Andrew Boitchenko.

“I definitely wish to remain in Canada,” said Advanced Education Minister Myles McDougall.

“I would be happy to meet the aspirations of Albertans within Canada.”

“I always campaign for Alberta and Canada,” said Energy and Minerals Minister Brian Jean.

“Together is better.”

Tany Yao, the UCP’s deputy government whip, painted a pally picture of a day just over a month away.

Come July 1 — Canada Day — Yao said he and others will “definitely be celebrating and handing out Canadian flags.”

With files from Tyson Fedor