Latest news with #JeffRath
Toronto Sun
12-05-2025
- Politics
- Toronto Sun
Alberta separatist group releases proposed referendum question, plans to push for vote this year
Once the group reaches its petition goal, they plan to push Premier Smith to hold the referendum this year Jeff Rath with the Alberta Prosperity Project speaks during a press conference at Hotel Arts in Calgary on Monday, May 12, 2025. The organization's draft of a referendum question for Alberta independence was released at the event. Gavin Young/Postmedia An Alberta separatist group has released a proposed referendum question on sovereignty from Canada, saying they will push the premier for a vote as soon as this year. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account That is, if they can garner support from enough provincial residents. During a news conference Monday, Jeffrey Rath — a lawyer with the Alberta Property Project — pulled a blue provincial flag off an easel, revealing the question printed in large font: 'Do you agree that the province shall become a sovereign country and cease to be a province of Canada?' 'It's not a wishy-washy question like what they had in Quebec,' Rath said, referring to a similar separatism referendum held in 1995 that very nearly saw the French-Canadian province separate from the country. The question of Alberta separatism returned to the forefront of social debate after Premier Danielle Smith tabled legislation in late April to reduce the threshold for a petition to trigger a referendum. If passed, the legislation would significantly reduce the number of signatures required and extend the time period for signatures to be collected. Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Since the federal election, the APP has seen thousands of people join, according to CEO Mitch Sylvestre. He said the party has received 220,000 pledges, leaving only 177,000 remaining to meet the required number of registered supporters. 'But our goal is to get to 600,000 pledges — to not just get the referendum but to win the referendum,' he said. Read More Starting Monday with an event at the Astoria Hall, the group plans to hold 50 town halls across the province as part of an Alberta-wide 'educational campaign on the rationale and merit of Alberta sovereignty,' Rath said. 'We intend to knock on every door at least twice,' he added, saying that if the group were to 'educate' Albertans on the real issues, the province would vote for independence. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. The group, which also included Dennis Modry, former heart surgeon and group chair, and former Conservative MP LaVar Payne, painted a vision of Alberta as an independent nation with no regulations from Ottawa, no obligations to eastern Ottawa, lower provincial taxes and zero federal taxes. Residents of an independent Alberta would see oil and gas development double within five years, a free-market free-trade agreement with the United States, and a flat 10 per cent income and corporate tax, while being able to keep their Canadian passports and Canada Pension Plan entitlements. 'We'd be the lowest tax regime in North America,' Rath said. 'Who wouldn't want to locate their corporate headquarters in Edmonton or Calgary with a flat 10 per cent corporate tax rate and a flat 10 per cent income tax rate? We think we have a robust economic message to sell.' This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Dennis Modry and LaVar Payne with the Alberta Prosperity Project take part in a press conference at Hotel Arts in Calgary on Monday, May 12, 2025. The organization's draft of a referendum question for Alberta independence was released at the event. Gavin Young/Postmedia Once the group reaches its petition goal, they plan to push Smith to hold the referendum this year. Sylvestre said the premier told him in a call last week that she plans to give Ottawa six months before holding a referendum. 'She says she owes it to Alberta to give it six months and, after that, if she doesn't come over to our side, then there's going to be a problem,' he said, adding that if she decides against the referendum vote, she would be acting contrarily to the desires of her electoral base. The premier has reiterated in previous news conferences that while she would support the outcome of a separatism referendum vote, it does not mean she's in favour of Alberta leaving Canada. Since the federal election, Smith has made a number of demands of Prime Minister Mark Carney, ranging from dropping federal energy and climate policies, and changing the federal transfer system within the next six months so Alberta gets more money from Ottawa. But Albertans won't be moved by 'whatever little box of chocolates Mark Carney can bring to the table,' Rath said, and can decide which is more valuable for them — that or a country without federal regulation or federal taxes. 'They can decide what is more valuable to them.' DDesai@
CBC
12-05-2025
- Politics
- CBC
Separatist group releases potential Alberta referendum question
An Alberta separatist group released on Monday a referendum question on independence from Canada that it will petition to get in front of provincial voters — but only once it has garnered support from 600,000 Albertans. That's more than triple the number of signatures the Alberta Prosperity Project (APP) would need under a new United Conservative Party government bill that makes it much easier to force a referendum on the ballot. The group also said it would push Premier Danielle Smith to allow a separation referendum later in 2025, instead of next year as she's suggested. They said a critical mass of separatist UCP members can persuade the premier to fast-track the referendum. At a news conference, APP lawyer Jeff Rath pulled a blue provincial flag off an easel to reveal the independence referendum question: "Do you agree that the province shall become a sovereign country and cease to be a province of Canada?" He touted this ballot question as far clearer than the ones Quebec put forth in its 1995 secession referendum, "and as serious as a heart attack." Rath and his fellow separatists depicted an independent Alberta with no regulations from Ottawa or eastern Canadian interests, lower provincial taxes plus no federal taxes. They suggested oil and gas development would double within five years, multiple new pipelines would extend into the United States, and residents of a breakaway Alberta republic would still keep their Canadian passports and Canada Pension Plan entitlements. The group said it wouldn't launch a citizens' initiative petition until it had 600,000 registered supporters, instead of the 177,000 soon to be legally required. They said this would bring their movement closer to the much higher number of votes they'd need to win on a secession referendum. According to an Angus Reid Institute poll released last week, 19 per cent of Albertans would definitely vote to leave Canada, while another 17 per cent say they lean in that direction. More than half of respondents said they would definitely vote to stay in Canada. Smith has said she supports Alberta staying in Canada. She has made several demands of Prime Minister Mark Carney to give Alberta a better deal in confederation — to drop many federal energy and climate policies, and overhaul the federal transfer system to give more money to her province within the next six months.
Yahoo
02-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Voter Guide: Meet 2 candidates for Newark City Council's Ward 3 in May 6 Republican primary
Incumbent Jeff Rath faces Molly Ingold in the May 6 Republican primary for Newark City Council's 3rd Ward seat. The winner will face Democrat Marci Fones in the general election. Rath has represented the 3rd Ward since 2010 and chairs the council's Service Committee. Ingold has no experience on the council but has been president of Hospice of Central Ohio, United Way director, a Newark school board member, Newark Rotary Club president and Licking Memorial Hospital human resources director. Ohio's primary election is May 6, with polls open from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. The information below was supplied by candidates responding to a questionnaire. Age: 74 Campaign website: Facebook Key issues: Community engagement where voices are heard and respected and action is taken; smart growth in the 3rd Ward; and strategic planning for Newark. Background: Director of City of Newark and Licking Memorial Hospital. Vice president of Hospice of Central Ohio. Superintendent of Bayer Polymers. Self-employed human resources consultant. President of Licking County Foundation, Newark Rotary Club, Kendal/Otterbein Senior Living, Cecil Mauger Charitable Trust, Newark City School Board and United Way of Licking County. Woman in Non-Profit Leadership facilitator. First United Methodist Church leadership. Elected positions include Newark Charter Commission and Newark City School Board. Master of Arts in student personnel and Bachelor of Science in Russian and secondary education from The Ohio State University. Why are you the best candidate? "My background has prepared me for the duties and for the required leadership for the 3rd Ward representative of the Newark City Council. "I will be accessible and engage directly with the residents of the 3rd Ward and Newark as a whole. My past work has proven I am committed to responding in a timely manner to those who reach out to me, to listen carefully, to help with their issues and to use their thoughts and ideas to help make decisions for the city. "I am the only candidate that has both elected (Charter Commission) and appointed (human resources director) experience with the city of Newark. My knowledge of and my hands-on work with the city has assisted in my preparation for this position. "My involvement in Newark and Licking County organizations and events provide me with a strong background and current information regarding community issues to make smart decisions that are best for our community. "My proven leadership skills and knowledge of human resources has provided me with strong people skills. My strengths are collaborating with others, supporting others, serving as a positive role model and working as a member of a team." Age: 62 Campaign website: Facebook Key issues: Maintaining the integrity of the neighborhood; supporting safety forces; and maintaining and monitoring the city budget. Background: Currently works for Spectrum as a senor residential connectivity specialist focusing on new residential customer relations. Has been in the field of sales for 20 years. Why are you the best candidate? "I am a conservative that believes and acts on conservative values. I will have 16 years of experience and history once reelected. I have lived in the 3rd Ward for 37 years. I have always been committed to serving my community in any way that I can, and I love Newark. I have been and will always be one of Newark's greatest cheerleaders and promoters. I work well with the current administration, and I am supported by them." This article originally appeared on Newark Advocate: Newark City Council's primary election features two candidates
