PRESS RELEASE

http://www.separationalberta.com/spa...newsmaller.jpg

Separation Party of Alberta offers it's support to the Western Independence
Party of Saskatchewan .

MELVILLE, SK.

A new force has burst on to the Saskatchewan political scene , one which
promises to finally put an end to that province's estrangement from the
federal government and alienation from the rest of the Confederation. The
Western Independence Party of Saskatchewan (WIP), who believe the welfare
of the people of Saskatchewan would be best served in an Independent Western
Canada, gained official party status only weeks prior to the 2003
Saskatchewan provincial election. As a follow up to their successful
registration drive and election campaign, the WIP held their inaugural
convention from March 12th to the 14th in Melville, a community of 4,500
people east of Regina.

The theme of the Western Independence Party's inaugural convention was
"Share The Vision". In the spirit of this pan-western theme, members of
the executive committee of the Separation Party of Alberta (SPA), which
promotes the secession of the province of Alberta from the Canadian
Confederation, were in attendance to lend their support.

In a show of solidarity between independence-minded residents of Alberta
and Saskatchewan, Bruce Hutton, interim leader of the Separation Party of
Alberta was invited to address the gathering of western separatists,
lending his movement's support to their endeavors.

"We are separate entities with a common goal. We both want to do what is in
the best interest of the people of our respective provinces," stated
Hutton. "We are natural allies against the ongoing economic plundering of the
west perpetrated by Ottawa and Central Canada. We will form strategic
alliances to assist one another to attain our goals."

Former Grande Prairie, Alberta mayor and SPA executive Al Romanchuk
feels the Western Independence Party is a positive force for achieving economic and democratic reform for the people of Saskatchewan.

"For countless years we have pleaded to be let in as equal partners in
Confederation. Our pleas have gone unanswered. We are out and now we
want to stay out. We applaud the capable leadership of Bruce Ritter and
all the members of the Western Independence Party of Saskatchewan and pledge
our unequivocal support."

This meeting occurs as support for both movements is on the rise. The
Separation Party of Alberta, having concluded a series of very successful
town hall meetings across the province of Alberta, has experienced a
groundswell of support amongst Albertans from all walks of life. The
support for a movement that puts Albertans first has been overwhelming, and
this bodes well for the SPA as they move one step closer towards gaining
official party status.

Meanwhile in Saskatchewan, recent surveys have shown that the residents of
Saskatchewan are among the most dissatisfied in Confederation. The most
recent poll on the subject by Ekos research indicated that twenty-three per
cent of Saskatchewanians "would not be too concerned if their province
joined the United States". This is certainly not a vote of confidence in
Confederation from one in four people in the province.
A confident and well-organized Western Independence Party of Saskatchewan
will no doubt put the people of Saskatchewan on the right track towards
independence.


Donna Ferolie
President
Separation Party of Alberta
http://www.separationalberta.com

:Graucho

http://www.separationalberta.com/whyseparation.asp

Why Separation?

A better question would be ?Why stay??

For almost 100 years, Alberta and the West have been trying to become real members of Canada and true, equal partners in Confederation. These efforts have proved fruitless. It is time to move forward and protect Alberta?s future. It is time to stop the financial and emotional drain caused by an incompetent, unresponsive political and bureaucratic nightmare called ?Ottawa?.


Economic Cost of Federation for Alberta, 1961 ? Present

Alberta has, on a per capita basis, been Ottawa?s largest single contributor. For example, between 1961 and 1992, Alberta paid $139 billion more to Ottawa than it received back from Ottawa. That is what it cost Albertans to be Canadian. *

And where did the money go? During that time frame, the province of Quebec, despite its large population and vibrant economy, was a net recipient of over $ 168 billion from Ottawa. Alberta was paying Quebec to be Canadian. *

* Source: Dr. Robert Mansell and Ronald Schlenker, ?The Provincial Distribution of Federal Fiscal Balances,? Canadian Business Economics 3:2 (Winter, 1995), 3-21

There are two net contributors to Ottawa; - Alberta and Ontario. The difference is that Ontario gets a return on investment. They have a diversified economy with end use manufacturing. They also have a strong voice in federal policy. The Kyoto Accord would have adversely affected Alberta and Ontario, however, Ottawa exempted the Ontario Auto Industry from the Accord.

Alberta?s Cost 1997 ? 2003**
In Billions Canadian Dollars $ 54.933
1997: $ 5.668
1999: $ 6.130
2001: $ 8.568
1998: $ 6.279
2000: $ 7.190
2002: $ 9.998
2003: $ 11.100

** Source: Alberta Finance March 2004


Alberta has fought Ottawa on numerous issues. Here are some issues that Alberta fought and lost the battle because of weak leaders:

? National Energy Program
? Kyoto
? Interference in Agriculture Policy
? Family Rights
? Personal Property Rights
? Federal Health Care Payments

National issues that waste tax-payers dollars and frustrate Albertans:

? Jane Stewart?s HRDC Boondoggle
? Helicopters cancelled, then reordered
? Submarine Debacle
? Firearms Registry Fiasco
? Broken Election Promises (no GST)
? No Serious National Debt Reduction
? Budgets Balanced at worker's expense
? Lack of Parliamentary Reform
? Canada Pension Plan is broke
? Out of control National Debt
? Ottawa?s lack of respect for Alberta
? Sponsorship Scandal

Albertans are tired of losing these battles. It is time to take what is rightfully ours. An independent Alberta would have a great future with a strong, viable, diversified economy.

What is the Long-term plan?
To give Alberta to Albertans
To facilitate the peaceful Separation of Alberta from Canadian Confederation
To become the most viable nation in the western hemisphere.