Latest news with #TakeBackAlberta
Calgary Herald
24-06-2025
- Politics
- Calgary Herald
'It's not great': Alberta independence movement takes hit in Olds byelection
OTTAWA — David Parker, the founder of conservative activist group Take Back Alberta, said on Monday morning that, by the end of the day, Albertans would know the strength of the province's budding independence movement. Article content 'It's not great,' he tweeted shortly before midnight, as the last of the results trickled in from Olds-Didsbury-Three Hills. Article content Article content The rural Alberta riding, one of three up for grabs in Monday's provincial byelection, was closely watched for a potential separatist breakthrough. Article content Article content In the end, the two pro-independence candidates on the ballot took home a respectable 19 per cent of the vote, but fell short of both major parties. Article content Article content 'I see a lot of talking heads and pundits and pollsters that are all quite vigorously calling for us to pack it in. And I hate to be the bearer of bad news for them, but we're just getting started,' said Davies. Article content He said going into the byelection that he was aiming for about 20 per cent of the vote. Article content Article content Davies, who favours Alberta becoming an independent constitutional republic, concedes that the Alberta Republicans' name and red colours may have tethered it too closely to U.S. President Donald Trump. Article content Article content '(The branding) certainly did cause questions about what we were,' said Davies. Article content 'Did it leave an opening for others to spread misinformation? Absolutely it did.' Article content Davies pushed back against assertions throughout the campaign that he wants Alberta to enter the U.S. as the 51st state, a claim he flatly denies. Article content Davies, who lives in south Red Deer, said he'll be running in the next provincial election but hasn't decided which riding he'll contest.
Vancouver Sun
24-06-2025
- Politics
- Vancouver Sun
'It's not great': Alberta independence movement takes hit in Olds byelection
OTTAWA — David Parker, the founder of conservative activist group Take Back Alberta, said on Monday morning that, by the end of the day, Albertans would know the strength of the province's budding independence movement. 'It's not great,' he tweeted shortly before midnight , as the the last of the results trickled in from Olds-Didsbury-Three Hills. The rural Alberta riding, one of three up for grabs in Monday's provincial byelection, was closely watched for a potential separatist breakthrough . In the end, the two pro-independence candidates on the ballot took home a respectable 19 per cent of the vote, but fell short of both major parties. Start your day with a roundup of B.C.-focused news and opinion. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sunrise will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. According to preliminary results, the UCP's Tara Sawyer won easily with 61 per cent of the vote with NDP candidate Bev Toews taking home 20 per cent, edging out Republican Party of Alberta leader Cam Davies by 365 votes. Davies told the National Post that the third-place finish won't break his spirits. 'I see a lot of talking heads and pundits and pollsters that are all quite vigorously calling for us to pack it in. And I hate to be the bearer of bad news for them, but we're just getting started,' said Davies. He said going into the byelection that he was aiming for about 20 per cent of the vote. Davies, who favours Alberta becoming an independent constitutional republic, concedes that the Alberta Republicans' name and red colours may have tethered it too closely to U.S. President Donald Trump. '(The branding) certainly did cause questions about what we were,' said Davies 'Did it leave an opening for others to spread misinformation? Absolutely it did.' Davies pushed back against assertions throughout the campaign that he wants Alberta to enter the U.S. as the 51st state, a claim he flatly denies. Davies, who lives in south Red Deer, said he'll be running in the next provincial election but hasn't decided which riding he'll run in. Wildrose Loyalty Coalition candidate Bill Tufts finished well behind the top three with just over one per cent of the vote. Most of the riding overlaps with Olds-Didsbury, where pro-independence candidate Gordon Kesler won a surprise byelection victory in 1982, becoming the only separatist to ever sit in Alberta's legislature. Jeff Rath, a lawyer with the pro-independence Alberta Prosperity Project, said that the easy UCP win was a testament to party leader and Premier Danielle Smith's continued popularity with the party's grassroots. Rath says this popularity extends to the majority of the UCP's base that supports Alberta independence . 'Even at APP events, when Danielle Smith's name gets mentioned … people applaud and they're very supportive of her,' said Rath. Rath says that the province's separatist movement is 'appreciative' of Smith's move in April to lower the threshold of signatures needed to trigger a referendum on independence. He also said he expects Smith to come out in favour of independence once its advantageous for her to do so. 'She's a pragmatist,' said Rath. Thirty-five per cent of UCP voters view Smith as a separatist, according to a recent poll from Pollara Strategic Insights. Rath says he wasn't concerned by the Alberta Republicans' showing in Olds, and didn't think the Alberta independence movement needs a new party considering how comfortable most of those voters are with the UCP. National Post Our website is the place for the latest breaking news, exclusive scoops, longreads and provocative commentary. Please bookmark and sign up for our daily newsletter, Posted, here .
Edmonton Journal
24-06-2025
- Politics
- Edmonton Journal
'It's not great': Alberta independence movement takes hit in Olds byelection
Breadcrumb Trail Links Article content OTTAWA — David Parker, the founder of conservative activist group Take Back Alberta, said on Monday morning that, by the end of the day, Albertans would know the strength of the province's budding independence movement. 'It's not great,' he tweeted shortly before midnight, as the the last of the results trickled in from Olds-Didsbury-Three Hills. The rural Alberta riding, one of three up for grabs in Monday's provincial byelection, was closely watched for a potential separatist breakthrough. Article content In the end, the two pro-independence candidates on the ballot took home a respectable 19 per cent of the vote, but fell short of both major parties. According to preliminary results, the UCP's Tara Sawyer won easily with 61 per cent of the vote with NDP candidate Bev Toews taking home 20 per cent, edging out Republican Party of Alberta leader Cam Davies by 365 votes. Davies told the National Post that the third-place finish won't break his spirits. 'I see a lot of talking heads and pundits and pollsters that are all quite vigorously calling for us to pack it in. And I hate to be the bearer of bad news for them, but we're just getting started,' said Davies. He said going into the byelection that he was aiming for about 20 per cent of the vote. Davies, who favours Alberta becoming an independent constitutional republic, concedes that the Alberta Republicans' name and red colours may have tethered it too closely to U.S. President Donald Trump. Article content '(The branding) certainly did cause questions about what we were,' said Davies 'Did it leave an opening for others to spread misinformation? Absolutely it did.' Davies pushed back against assertions throughout the campaign that he wants Alberta to enter the U.S. as the 51st state, a claim he flatly denies. Davies, who lives in south Red Deer, said he'll be running in the next provincial election but hasn't decided which riding he'll run in. Wildrose Loyalty Coalition candidate Bill Tufts finished well behind the top three with just over one per cent of the vote. Most of the riding overlaps with Olds-Didsbury, where pro-independence candidate Gordon Kesler won a surprise byelection victory in 1982, becoming the only separatist to ever sit in Alberta's legislature. Jeff Rath, a lawyer with the pro-independence Alberta Prosperity Project, said that the easy UCP win was a testament to party leader and Premier Danielle Smith's continued popularity with the party's grassroots. Article content Rath says this popularity extends to the majority of the UCP's base that supports Alberta independence. 'Even at APP events, when Danielle Smith's name gets mentioned … people applaud and they're very supportive of her,' said Rath. Rath says that the province's separatist movement is 'appreciative' of Smith's move in April to lower the threshold of signatures needed to trigger a referendum on independence. He also said he expects Smith to come out in favour of independence once its advantageous for her to do so. 'She's a pragmatist,' said Rath. Thirty-five per cent of UCP voters view Smith as a separatist, according to a recent poll from Pollara Strategic Insights. Rath says he wasn't concerned by the Alberta Republicans' showing in Olds, and didn't think the Alberta independence movement needs a new party considering how comfortable most of those voters are with the UCP. National Post Article content Latest National Stories
National Post
24-06-2025
- Politics
- National Post
'It's not great': Alberta independence movement takes hit in Olds byelection
OTTAWA — David Parker, the founder of conservative activist group Take Back Alberta, said on Monday morning that, by the end of the day, Albertans would know the strength of the province's budding independence movement. Article content 'It's not great,' he tweeted shortly before midnight, as the the last of the results trickled in from Olds-Didsbury-Three Hills. Article content Article content The rural Alberta riding, one of three up for grabs in Monday's provincial byelection, was closely watched for a potential separatist breakthrough. Article content Article content In the end, the two pro-independence candidates on the ballot took home a respectable 19 per cent of the vote, but fell short of both major parties. Article content According to preliminary results, the UCP's Tara Sawyer won easily with 61 per cent of the vote with NDP candidate Bev Toews taking home 20 per cent, edging out Republican Party of Alberta leader Cam Davies by 365 votes. Davies told the National Post that the third-place finish won't break his spirits. Article content 'I see a lot of talking heads and pundits and pollsters that are all quite vigorously calling for us to pack it in. And I hate to be the bearer of bad news for them, but we're just getting started,' said Davies. Article content Davies, who favours Alberta becoming an independent constitutional republic, concedes that the Alberta Republicans' name and red colours may have tethered it too closely to U.S. President Donald Trump. Article content '(The branding) certainly did cause questions about what we were,' said Davies Article content 'Did it leave an opening for others to spread misinformation? Absolutely it did.' Article content Davies pushed back against assertions throughout the campaign that he wants Alberta to enter the U.S. as the 51st state, a claim he flatly denies. Article content Davies, who lives in south Red Deer, said he'll be running in the next provincial election but hasn't decided which riding he'll run in. Article content Wildrose Loyalty Coalition candidate Bill Tufts finished well behind the top three with just over one per cent of the vote. Article content Most of the riding overlaps with Olds-Didsbury, where pro-independence candidate Gordon Kesler won a surprise byelection victory in 1982, becoming the only separatist to ever sit in Alberta's legislature. Article content Jeff Rath, a lawyer with the pro-independence Alberta Prosperity Project, said that the easy UCP win was a testament to party leader and Premier Danielle Smith's continued popularity with the party's grassroots.
Edmonton Journal
16-06-2025
- Politics
- Edmonton Journal
Take Back Alberta facing collection notice as it appeals $112K in Elections Alberta fines
Article content Court scheduling is underway to hear an appeal from activist group Take Back Alberta (TBA) as it seeks to overturn $112,500 in fines for election advertising violations that have since been referred to Crown debt collection. The fines were imposed last February on TBA and its founder David Parker by Elections Alberta for what it describes as 'numerous substantive breaches' of the Election Finances and Contributions Disclosure Act, including TBA's absence of financial reporting, circumventing advertising spending limits, and accepting money from outside the province.
