Poilievre separating himself from Alberta separatist movement ahead of byelection

As he runs in a byelection for a federal seat in Alberta, Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre is making it clear he disagrees with the separatist movement that has been growing in the province.

At a news conference in Ottawa, Poilievre dismissed the idea of separation, calling himself a “Canadian patriot.”

“I was born and raised in Calgary and I understand the frustration,” he says. “I still think there is no other country in the world where someone of my modest origins would be able to make it to this place.”

He added that many Albertans have a legitimate gripe with the federal government, saying the province has been unfairly targeted in a series of policy decisions over the last 10 years.

“We have to put a final end to this notion that Ottawa tells Alberta to pay up and shut up,” says Poilievre. “That’s what Alberta have been told by this Liberal government for a decade.”

He pointed to equalization payments, gun bans and federal energy policies as part of the grievances.

“Alberta is the number one per capita contributor in confederation, paying more in tax than getting back in federal programs,” he says. “The major industry of Alberta has been under relentless attack.”

Poilievre is running for the seat in the riding of Battle River-Crowfoot after losing his long-held seat in the Ottawa area during the spring election. Damien Kurek resigned his seat in the riding earlier this month after winning more than 82 per cent support.

Prime Minister Mark Carney has set Aug. 18 as the date for the byelection.

Separatist sentiment has been on the rise in Alberta since the Liberals managed an election win that seemed unlikely, if not impossible, just six months ago.

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith’s government has introduced a bill to make it easier to launch a citizen-initiated referendum, including a vote on separating from Canada.

A group called the Alberta Prosperity Project has pledged to push for a referendum on the question, “Do you agree that the province of Alberta shall become an independent country and cease to be a province of Canada?”

Poilievre faces a leadership review from the party in January.

With the files from The Canadian Press