A key figure in the prominent separatist group, the Alberta Prosperity Project, has stepped down after using a racial slur at an event where the group unveiled a preliminary constitution for an independent Alberta.
During the event organized by the group behind the “Stay Free Alberta” citizen initiative petition, members of the Black Hat Gang, a Medicine Hat-based group credited with contributing to the plan, presented the draft constitution. Ian Parkinson, a member of the Black Hat Gang, was introduced as a co-author of the constitution named the “Foundation of Freedom,” which was showcased in Airdrie and live-streamed online.
Parkinson’s derogatory comment, which targeted Sikh, Muslim, or Arab individuals wearing cultural or religious headdresses, sparked applause from some audience members. Following the incident, Mitch Sylvestre, the leader of the Alberta Prosperity Project, announced that Parkinson had resigned from the group with immediate effect. Sylvestre emphasized the group’s strong opposition to such comments and expressed disappointment over the incident.
The Alberta Prosperity Project clarified that Parkinson was neither a board member nor an officer of the group. Despite attempts to reach out to Parkinson for comment, no response was received by publication time.
The divisive remark by Parkinson received widespread criticism, including from within the separatist community, with Keith Wilson, co-leader of the pro-independence group Let Alberta Decide, condemning the comment for its negative impact on the separatist movement’s reputation.
The draft constitution presented by the Alberta Prosperity Project, known as the “Foundation of Freedom,” has faced backlash from various quarters within the separatist movement. The document proposes unconventional ideas such as the creation of a fourth government branch called the “oversight branch,” no property taxes, and the election of judges in a sovereign Alberta.
While the draft constitution was not publicly accessible online or shared with CBC News before publication, it has triggered differing opinions among separatist leaders. Some have distanced themselves from the document, labeling it as nonsensical and not reflective of the values of the broader separatist movement.
The lack of consensus among separatists regarding the draft constitution highlights ongoing divisions within the movement as it approaches a critical referendum. The event and its livestream, organized by FreedomCalendar.net, aimed to initiate discussions around a potential Alberta constitution and foster diverse perspectives within the separatist community.