These days Jeff Rath is one happy camper.
Rath is one of the movers and shakers in the separatist petition drive to get the question of whether Alberta should split from Canada on a provincewide ballot this fall.
We’ve seen the lineups of people around the province wanting to sign the petition, even in the bitter cold.
Rath feels momentum.
He now explains how at the rate the separatists are going they will have no problem getting the 177,732 signatures needed for Alberta independence to be put to a vote of Albertans.
Rath says to get over the finish line they need about 12,000 signatures a week.
“We’re crushing the 12,000 signature-a-week benchmark,” says Rath.
“As far as getting to the 178,000 signatures, we’re well ahead of the curve. We’re crushing our goal on that. 12,000 a week is not that hard to do.”
There is also the much tougher goal out there of getting a million signatures.
Rath figures that’s 62,500 signatures a week and they are “behind the curve” on that goal.
He admits there were some “growing pains” in the early days of the petition campaign but now they have over 5,000 registered canvassers able to collect signatures.
Can’t help but wonder about those members of the legislature from Premier Danielle Smith’s UCP who are said to have signed the get out of Canada petition.
Rath says there are more of them prepared to sign, pens at the ready.
“Others are going to sign the petition because they think it’s important for their constituents to know they support Albertans being able to vote on this important issue.”
Rath has a bone to pick with Premier Smith.
“The MLAs who support independence should be able to publicly sign the petition and come out in favour of independence and explain why they’re in favour of independence.
“But Danielle won’t let them and I don’t think that’s very nice. It’s undemocratic.”
Then there are those slamming the separatist petition campaign.
Recently, former Alberta premier Jason Kenney called the separatists “a small minority of kooks.”
“Every time Jason Kenney attacks us or B.C. Premier David Eby attacks us it just reminds another 100,000 Albertans to go out and sign the petition. Keep it up. We love it. It’s awesome.”
Then there are those who feel the separatist campaign is more smoke than fire.
“Bless their hearts,” says Rath.
“The more they underestimate us, they more they insult us, the more they denigrate us, the more it reminds Albertans to sign the petition.”
It is quite the thing.
In Quebec there is a separatist political party that may well win the upcoming election there.
There is a Quebec separatist political party sitting in the House of Commons.
There are many big names of all types in Quebec who are separatists and open about it.
In Alberta, there are no big name establishment figures giving their public stamp of approval to Alberta independence.
However, there are people who are mad as hell.
“Everybody is so disgusted by the political establishment in this province and the degree to which we have been let down time and time and time again,” says Rath.
“Politicians we put on pedestals turned out to have feet of clay.”
Rath is quite willing to take a few shots.
On federal Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre: “I keep telling people: Wake up, Pierre is not coming to save you. He’s just another Eastern politician trying to pander for votes in Quebec.”
In Rath’s view, Smith allowed the separatist petition campaign hoping if Alberta independence supporters had their say that would be the end of it.
Rath says if Prime Minister Mark Carney’s Liberals ever manage to get a majority of the seats in the House of Commons “it would drive support for independence through the roof and that would be the end of Alberta in Canada..”
Even Premier Smith does not escape the wrath of Rath.
Rath says the Alberta premier “couldn’t negotiate her way out of a wet paper bag.”
On social media Friday, Smith says “Alberta is winning by pushing back and standing our ground.”
Smith points to movement on files such as a pipeline to the west coast and no oil and gas production cap.
Rath and the separatists are not moved.
“It’s too late now. We’re done with all that. It’s over.”