A key figure in the prominent pro-separation organization, the Alberta Prosperity Project, has stepped down following the use of a racial slur at an event where the group unveiled a preliminary constitution for an independent Alberta.
The gathering, organized by the group supporting the “Stay Free Alberta” citizen petition initiative, showcased contributions from the Black Hat Gang, a Medicine Hat-based group acknowledged for their input into the plan and presentation of the document.
During the event in Airdrie, Ian Parkinson, touted as a co-author of the draft constitution dubbed the “Foundation of Freedom,” made a controversial statement, garnering applause from the audience. Parkinson’s derogatory comment, often aimed at Sikh, Muslim, or Arab individuals in relation to cultural or religious headwear, sparked criticism.
Following the incident, Mitch Sylvestre, the head of the Alberta Prosperity Project, announced Parkinson’s immediate resignation from the group. Sylvestre emphasized the organization’s disapproval of the remarks and expressed disappointment that such comments were made using their platform.
Notably, Parkinson was not a part of the Alberta Prosperity Project’s board or held an official position within the group. Despite attempts to reach Parkinson for comment, there was no response from him at the time of publication.
The controversial statement made by Parkinson raised concerns within the separatist community, with Keith Wilson, co-leader of the pro-independence group Let Alberta Decide, denouncing the remarks as unrepresentative of their values and causing negative perceptions of the separatist movement.
The proposed constitution, titled the “Foundation of Freedom,” put forward by the Alberta Prosperity Project, faced criticism from various separatist factions for its unconventional elements, including the establishment of an oversight branch of government, abolishing property taxes, implementing term limits for elected officials, and advocating for the election of judges in an independent Alberta.
While the document was not publicly available online before this report, it received mixed reactions from key separatist figures like Wilson and Bruce Pardy, highlighting divisions within the movement regarding the proposed constitution’s content and readiness for implementation.
The event and its associated livestream, promoted by FreedomCalendar.net, aimed to initiate discussions on a potential Alberta constitution post-independence. Sylvestre emphasized that the draft presented was a starting point for broader discourse and would be subject to further refinement through a constitutional conference in the event of a successful separation referendum.
Jared Wesley, a political science professor at the University of Alberta, noted the lack of unity within the separatist movement, suggesting that the absence of a clear plan for Alberta’s separation from Canada could pose challenges and raise questions among Albertans as they head to the polls on October 19.