Jason Stephan, the only Alberta MLA who publicly urged people to sign a pro-separatist petition, quietly resigned from his position within Premier Danielle Smith’s inner circle last month.
This exit of Smith’s parliamentary secretary of constitutional affairs came just weeks before Smith announced that her United Conservative caucus and cabinet support the “remain” stance in the Oct. 19 referendum she has proposed. This will ask Albertans if they wish to stay in Canada or begin the legal process for a binding independence vote later on.
The premier appointed Stephan, the vocal MLA for Red Deer-South, to his role last May.
This appointment, which is one level below cabinet, was made as the secessionist movement prepared its petition drive for an independence referendum while Smith was set to launch the Alberta Next panel aimed at helping her province “assert its constitutional jurisdiction” against Ottawa.
Stephan attracted attention and criticism in late March when he wrote an op-ed for the Western Standard urging “all who love freedom and prosperity” to sign Stay Free Alberta’s petition to demand an independence referendum because Canada’s Constitution is “rigged against Alberta” and that the current situation is unacceptable.
Smith, who claims her government supports a “sovereign Alberta” within Canada and isn’t pro-separatist, seemed willing to accept Stephan’s views.
“One voice in our caucus has a different perspective, and we are a caucus that allows for diversity of opinions,” she stated on radio March 28.
WATCH | In announcing referendum question, Smith tells separatists they’re better off in Canada:
Alberta premier tells separatists that they’re better off in Canada
In a speech to the province on Thursday evening, Danielle Smith directly addressed separatists: ‘Now is not the time to give up hope in our country.’
Stephan’s message drew backlash from opposition members who criticized Smith’s team as being pro-separatist.
“Her chief adviser on the Constitution is now a full-throated separatist, in writing, yet she’s doing nothing about it,” NDP Leader Naheed Nenshi charged during question period.
However, less than two weeks later, Stephan stepped down without any announcement.
In an email to , Stephan confirmed he resigned from his position on April 7. The backbencher didn’t provide any details about why he left.
He remains a “valued member of our UCP caucus,” said Sam Blackett, Smith’s spokesperson, in a statement to .
“He chose to resign earlier this year from his role as Parliamentary Secretary but made it clear he is very supportive of the work of our government.”
asked whether there were any discussions between the premier and Red Deer MLA regarding his advocacy for separatism. The premier’s office did not respond.
No other members out of 46 United Conservative MLAs publicly supported the separatist petition. While Stephan hasn’t explicitly pushed for secession himself, he has been one of his caucus’ most vocal critics of Ottawa and federal policies.
When his provincial government faced a $9.4-billion budget deficit, Stephan defended it by saying: “Alberta has an Ottawa problem.”
“Thinking Alberta will get fairness from Ottawa is false hope,” he tweeted later that month on social media.
Last August, he wrote another opinion piece criticizing French-language mandates in Alberta.
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Alberta premier tells separatists that they’re better off in Canada
In a speech to the province on Thursday evening, Danielle Smith directly addressed separatists: ‘Now is not the time to give up hope in our country.’
Stephan’s message drew backlash from opposition members who criticized Smith’s team as being pro-separatist.
“Her chief adviser on the Constitution is now a full-throated separatist, in writing, yet she’s doing nothing about it,” NDP Leader Naheed Nenshi charged during question period.
However, less than two weeks later, Stephan stepped down without any announcement.
In an email to , Stephan confirmed he resigned from his position on April 7. The backbencher didn’t provide any details about why he left.
He remains a “valued member of our UCP caucus,” said Sam Blackett, Smith’s spokesperson, in a statement to .
“He chose to resign earlier this year from his role as Parliamentary Secretary but made it clear he is very supportive of the work of our government.”
asked whether there were any discussions between the premier and Red Deer MLA regarding his advocacy for separatism. The premier’s office did not respond.
No other members out of 46 United Conservative MLAs publicly supported the separatist petition. While Stephan hasn’t explicitly pushed for secession himself, he has been one of his caucus’ most vocal critics of Ottawa and federal policies.
When his provincial government faced a $9.4-billion budget deficit, Stephan defended it by saying: “Alberta has an Ottawa problem.”
“Thinking Alberta will get fairness from Ottawa is false hope,” he tweeted later that month on social media.
Last August, he wrote another opinion piece criticizing French-language mandates in Alberta.Source link
