Thousands rally for Alberta independence at Legislature

Initial estimates suggested around 5,000 attendees, although organizers were waiting on drone footage for further confirmation.

Jeffrey Rath, General Counsel for the Alberta Prosperity Project (APP), estimated over 10,000 attended, noting only 15 to 20 counter-protesters were present. Rath commended the Alberta sheriffs for their work.

Rath stated that Alberta Premier Danielle Smith’s six months of attempting to work with the federal Liberals had failed, and it was time to embrace Alberta independence and “get on board the freedom train.”

Albertans travelled from across the province, some on buses organized by the Alberta Prosperity Project, others independently.

One attendee, Myrna, who spoke with True North, said that she would have called Thomas Lukaszuk’s Pro-Canada petition the “Forever Screwed petition.” She said supporters were being convinced to sign this petition based on a Canada they remember that no longer exists.

Rath said Saturday that he heard Lukaszuk was 50,000 signatures short, with a Tuesday deadline.

He also stated that the Alberta Prosperity Project has over 300,000 pledges to sign their referendum petition.

Speakers at the event included Whistle Stop Café owner Chris Scott, APP CEO Mitch Sylvestre, and constitutional lawyers Jeffrey Rath and Keith Wilson. John Bolton was the emcee.

Common themes among the speakers were freedom, sovereignty, and democracy.

The crowd alternated between cheering for pro-independence and democracy themes, and booing when Ottawa’s intrusion into the lives of Albertans was mentioned.

Constitutional lawyer Keith Wilson warned that if Albertans thought things were bad now, they were “only destined to get worse” under a federal government pursuing Bill C-9 to censor free speech.

“We just want to get Ottawa’s knee off our neck,” he said.

Wilson also pledged a province-wide referendum by 2026.

He tasked rally attendees with discussing the benefits of Alberta sovereignty with everyone they know, arguing that the uncertainty of an independent Alberta was less frightening than the certainty of a “dystopian federal government in Ottawa.”

Scott declared the referendum would be the most important action Albertans take in their lifetime.

Sylvestre used the rally to create a rallying cry for the movement.

While Prime Minister Mark Carney campaigned on the “Elbows up” movement, Sylvestre said that Alberta separatists will use “cmon, let’s go!” similarly using hockey fights as a baseline.

Rath suggested October 25 could be known as Alberta Independence Day going forward.

He claimed that under the Carney government, Canada has become one of the most corrupt countries globally, citing the World Economic Forum’s connection to some Liberal party members.

He criticized other Canadian politicians, explaining that Ontario Premier Doug Ford threatened to cut off American oil without realizing that oil reaching Ontario must first pass through the United States.

He also criticized former environment minister Steven Guilbeault for not knowing that Canada didn’t have a cross-country pipeline.

Rath celebrated his and his team’s recent trips to the United States, claiming that U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration showed “ample support for Alberta becoming an independent country.”

Rath stated that 70 to 75 per cent of the Alberta UCP’s board supported independence and urged rally attendees to attend the upcoming AGM to increase that support to 100 per cent.

“Today was a massive day for the Alberta freedom movement,” Rath said. “The biggest independence rally in Alberta’s history was held on the steps of the legislature today. Hopefully it sent a really strong message to both Danielle Smith and Mark Carney that we don’t give a sh** about what they’re doing anymore. We’re out. We’re done.”

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