Alberta energy minister will not speak at sovereignty event, UCP says, despite what poster said

The Alberta NDP says a poster for a townhall happening later this month is “proof” the UCP is a separatist party.

Energy Minister Brian Jean appeared on a poster for a June 25 event called “Courage to Listen.” Hosted by five UCP riding associations, it’s billed as a townhall to “construct the framework for a sovereign Alberta within a united Canada.”

The poster includes a separation referendum question, and speakers who support Alberta leaving Canada.

“We now have proof her government is made up of separatists,” said Christina Gray, Alberta’ official Opposition House leader, speaking of Danielle Smith’s UCP.

But in a statement, the UCP says Minister Jean, who did not agree to an interview with CityNews, never actually planned to attend the event, and that Jean told organizers as much last Thursday.

The party did not respond to a question about how Jean ended up on the official poster.

“Having a minister of the Crown attend would have been a major escalation,” shared Duane Bratt, a political scientist at Mount Royal University. “Particularly the minister of energy, because if you read their description, they talk about this is all being driven by how Alberta is not being allowed to fully develop its resources and it’s costing us lots and lots of money.”

Jean’s name remained on the list of speakers as of Monday afternoon, confusing even the most avid political watchers as to how this happened.

“It surprised me to see Brian Jean’s name on there, given that he was one of the strongest critics of Smith’s Sovereignty Act during the leadership race and he was of the people who forced the ‘Sovereign Alberta within a United Canada’ approach,” said Bratt. “So I’m glad he’s not speaking. But clearly this is the sentiment of the party, if not the government.”

The UCP said by holding a press conference on the matter, the NDP is “spreading fear and misinformation in a desperate attempt to recover their falling poll numbers.”

But the NDP alleges the UCP is damaging the economy by cuddling up to separatists.

“Talk of separation always leads to investment uncertainty, which means projects are put on hold, or cancelled,” said Gray. “Alberta jobs are being lost. Unemployment rates are rising and Alberta wages continue to stagnate, all due to the harm this separation talk brings to our economy.”

A spokesperson for Premier Smith did not immediately respond to a request for comment.