Hundreds line up in Red Deer to sign petition for Alberta to leave Canada

Hundreds of people lined up in Red Deer to sign onto a petition calling for a referendum on Alberta separating from Canada. 

“Your industry is garbage, and if you try to complain, we’re going to call you a bunch of hicks, and rednecks. Would any Albertan seriously take that up?” one supporter said. “You know what, we have the chance for freedom and I’m going to chose freedom.”

Feelings of frustration towards Ottawa was cited as one of the reasons people turned out to Wednesday’s petition signing.

“The problem in Alberta that we have is all the oil is in Alberta and all the dipsticks are out East,” said supporter Austin Rickards.

The signing in Red Deer was organized by Stay Free Alberta, who is collecting signatures in support of Alberta Prosperity Project head Mitch Sylvestre’s petition.

For petition supporter, Brandi Bowman, she believes separating would mean better economic conditions in Alberta.

“I have children at home, I have a 20-year-old daughter who lives in my basement and cannot find a job beyond a measly minimum wage job, no matter what schooling that you have,” she said.

She and other supporters believe even if the Conservatives were to gain power federally that wouldn’t help.

“I think because a lot of stuff still wouldn’t change, we’re tired of the equalization payments,” Bowman added.

“Canada is going down hill fast, they’re going to be bankrupt fast,” one supporter said.

A dueling petition that seeks to have Alberta remain in Canada has already collected the necessary signatures, with over 400,000 people signing-on.

For the pro-separation petition to succeed, 177,732 signatures are needed by May 2.

“In the long run its going  to benefit a lot of people, it’d be nice to see the worth of this province, come back to this province,” said supporter Will Bos.