Separatist lawyer Jeffrey Rath alleged in a television interview that Premier Danielle Smith purchased the Wexit Party’s list of contacts while running for the 2022 United Conservative Party (UCP) leadership, then used it to court separatists who thought she secretly agreed with them.
Wexit Canada, the federal party that used the Wexit name, renamed itself the Maverick Party in September 2020, two years before the leadership vote.
Separatists did play a part in the 2022 race, working to drive former Alberta Premier Jason Kenney from the leadership and elect Smith, and some now hold party posts.
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Rath is seeking a special meeting of UCP members to vote on Smith’s leadership. He said his movement’s volunteers will work toward “taking back ownership” of the party. Calling a meeting takes motions from 22 of 87 local associations. At least three had passed them before the referendum, while the party says nearly 50 associations back Smith. The party gathers in Calgary for its annual meeting November 27 to 29.
Related: Alberta Separatists Target Smith’s UCP Leadership After Referendum Loss
Smith announced a livestreamed, province-wide address for 6:45 p.m. Mountain Time Tuesday on the referendum results and what comes next. She said she will honour the result and call no second separation referendum while she is premier, acknowledged the frustrations behind the separatist movement, and urged Albertans to move forward together. Kenney, who co-founded the UCP, said before the vote that the party faces a reckoning over whether to stay true to its federalist roots and, if so, remove separatists.
Unofficial results show about 75% of Albertans voted to remain in Canada. On Smith’s other nine questions, the immigration measures drew majority support and the constitutional measures ran closer, with the question on provincial opt-outs from federal programs trailing at the latest count. Elections Alberta will release official results October 29.
