Bell: Alberta separatist leader takes on Smith, says pro-Canada side is stalling

Keith Wilson, one of the leaders in the fight for Alberta independence, appears pretty upbeat these days.

“The campaign is going better than I anticipated at this point and we are building momentum while the federalist side seems to be stalling.”

Wilson is not impressed with Premier Danielle Smith campaigning for the stay-in-Canada side, or as she calls it, “a sovereign Alberta within a united Canada.”

The Smith government is spending about $4 million on an ad campaign and is urging Albertans “to vote in support of a strong and sovereign Alberta within a united Canada.”

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“You either have a referendum or you don’t and when you have a referendum it’s for the people to decide.

“She doesn’t have a limit on her spending budget. She doesn’t have to account for every frigging dollar and she is putting her thumb on the scale.

“The Smith government is using taxpayer dollars to tip the scales in favour of the stay-in-Canada side.”

In this referendum battle. Wilson is trying to court Albertans who want to leave Canada now as well as Albertans wanting to send an in-your-face message to Ottawa.

After all, the Oct. 19 referendum vote asks Albertans whether they want to remain in Canada or have the province hold a vote in the future on leaving Canada.

“There are no circumstances in the current arrangement in Canada where Alberta gets to decide the laws and policies affecting our lives.”

The Alberta independence leader, one of many leaders, says Alberta has the worst of both worlds.