Alberta sovereignty group brings message to city
By Lethbridge Herald on June 20, 2025.
Alexandra Noad
Lethbridge Herald
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
The Alberta sovereignty organization held a sold-out meeting of 375 people in Lethbridge this week to discuss what a possible independent Alberta could look like.
Mitch Sylvestre, chief executive officer of the Alberta Prosperity Project, says heâs noticed since the last election an uprise in Albertans who have lost hope in federal politics, and APP wants to offer those discouraged Albertans hope.
âI think weâre giving them the opportunity to have hope and to give them the opportunity to support change by participating in a democracy,â says Silvestre.
When asked about those who donât agree with separating from Canada, Sylvestre says they are more than welcome to participate in a referendum on Alberta sovereignty. However, he adds he has yet to hear a counter argument that trumps the idea of Alberta separating from Canada.
Sylvestre says many people are confused and believe sovereignty is all politics, while APP believes all Albertans, no matter their political beliefs, should consider supporting an independent state.
âPeople are trying to make this into a partisan issue; this isnât a partisan issue. This is the very lifestyle of the people of Alberta thatâs at stake here and the federal government is clearly showing us and telling us what their path is, and itâs completely conflicting with what the path of an independent, sovereign, prosperous Alberta would be.â
Sylvestre says, as an independent state, Alberta could choose its own currency, and claims that Premier Danielle Smith has personally asked him about trading in U.S. dollars
âSheâs actually brought that up to me personally as a question. She said, âwhat do you think? What would you think if Alberta traded in U.S. dollars?ââ
However, in a statement to the Herald, the premierâs office said: âAs the Premier has stated on numerous occassions, she believes in a strong and sovereign Alberta within a united Canada. Any claim to the contrary is incorrect.â
Sylvestre believes that transitioning to using the U.S. dollar would be a very easy step, as a majority of our exports go south.
The APP is currently building a business plan which Sylvestre says will demonstrate that an independent Alberta would have a $30-to-$50-billion surplus.
How Alberta would trade with other provinces after separation is a topic of discussion at APP meetings, says Sylvester. An option could be negotiating with British Columbia to build a pipeline through B.C as the province would need to export up to 90 per cent of their goods through Alberta.
He also claims that Albertans pay $9 billion a year to CPP while only collecting $6 billion, meaning a 40 per cent overage is paid that a sovereign Alberta could claim. Due to the portability clause in the Canada Pension Plan, says Sylvestre, the federal government is on the hook to pay pensions to anyone no matter where they live.
According to an article by Public Interest of Alberta published yesterday, a survey from the Government of Alberta shows that 63 per cent of Albertans were opposed to the idea of an Alberta Pension Plan, with only 10 per cent or respondents supporting it.
When it comes to First Nations treaties, Sylvestre says the worst Indigenous people would end up with if Alberta would separate is what they currently have.
âTheyâre independent within Alberta and theyâre like National ParksâŚso their arrangement doesnât have to change at all.â
He adds that the APP is proposing to triple First Nations income with projects that will help many get above the poverty line, and claims Indigenous people are excited about it.
Sylvestre believes a potential referendum on sovereignty may be the most important decision Albertans will make in their lifetime and all voters should take the matter seriously.
âI really believe everybody should listen very intently and pay attention to what the real facts are, versus whatâs going on out there and whatâs been going on for the las 10 years, and see exactly what kind of lifestyle they want to make for themselves and their children moving forward.â
21-20
I emailed the Agri Hub and our councilors that this separatist group had booked our bldg for a gathering to promote leaving Canada and for it to be cancelled. Got common responses that APP had not broken any Agri Hub rules or policies so the meeting would go on. I strongly disagree based on my belief that Alberta belongs in Canada and APP is a separatist group spreading disinformation on the benefits of leaving. I havenât been able to find the Agri Hub rules and policy for leasing our facility but suggest it may need some review. I wonder if a neo Nazi or white suprematist group applied for a rental would it be approved? Cudos to the admin of the German Canadian Club for canceling the APP meeting once they were made aware of their agenda. I guess the GCC has higher standards than our Agri Hub and council. Also, looks like the GCC put loyalty to Canada and support for Alberta to remain within Canada above the income from their hall rental to a separatist group.
clowns…orange ones, no doubt