A member of the prominent Alberta Prosperity Project, a pro-separation group, has stepped down following his use of a racial slur at an event where the group unveiled a draft constitution for an independent Alberta. The event, organized by the group responsible for the “Stay Free Alberta” citizen initiative petition, showcased the Black Hat Gang from Medicine Hat, who helped develop the plan and presented the constitution.
Ian Parkinson, a co-writer of the draft constitution named the “Foundation of Freedom,” made the offensive comments during the presentation in Airdrie, which was also live-streamed. His derogatory remarks targeted Sikh, Muslim, or Arab individuals wearing cultural or religious headwear. In response, Mitch Sylvestre, the leader of the Alberta Prosperity Project, accepted Parkinson’s resignation immediately, emphasizing that the group does not support or tolerate such comments.
The Black Hat Gang, associated with Parkinson, previously engaged with senior government officials and proposed a new document outlining Albertans’ rights in 2024. It was clarified that Parkinson was neither a board member nor an officer of the Alberta Prosperity Project. Despite attempts to reach Parkinson for comment, there was no response from him at the time of publication.
Criticism of Parkinson’s remarks extended to separatist circles, with Keith Wilson, co-leader of the pro-independence group Let Alberta Decide, condemning the comments as detrimental to the movement’s reputation. Wilson expressed concern that such incidents could unfairly tarnish the broader separatist community’s image.
The draft constitution presented by the Alberta Prosperity Project faced backlash from various separatist factions for its controversial proposals, such as establishing a new government branch, eliminating property taxes, implementing term limits for elected officials, and advocating for the election rather than appointment of judges in an independent Alberta. Despite not being publicly available online before the article’s publication, the document was met with skepticism by key separatist figures like Wilson and Bruce Pardy.
The lack of consensus among separatists further highlighted divisions within the movement, with differing opinions on the proposed constitution and the overall path to independence. Jared Wesley, a political science professor at the University of Alberta, remarked on the ongoing disunity within the independence movement, emphasizing the need for a cohesive plan should Alberta decide to separate from Canada. As the referendum date approaches on October 19, uncertainty surrounds the separatist movement’s future direction.