The Independence Party of Alberta (TIP), previously known as the Alberta Independence Party from 2001 to 2019, is a provincial political party in Alberta, Canada, focused on promoting Alberta's autonomy or separation from Canadian confederation. Below is a detailed overview of the party’s history, leadership, ideology, and electoral performance based on available information.
The party was initially founded in 2000 by Cory Morgan, with its founding convention held in January 2001 ahead of the Alberta general election. Its original aim was to increase Alberta's autonomy within Canada, spurred by dissatisfaction with the Canadian Alliance's limited success outside Western Canada in the 2000 federal election. However, the party failed to gather enough signatures to register officially with Elections Alberta, forcing its 14 candidates to run as independents in the 2001 election. None were elected. At its annual general meeting in October 2001, the party shifted its focus to outright separation from Canada but disbanded before the end of that year1.
The Alberta Independence Party was re-formed in late 2017 when Dave Bjorkman, who became interim leader in early 2018, sought permission from founder Cory Morgan to revive the name. Officially registered with Elections Alberta on March 20, 2019, the party fielded 63 candidates in the 2019 Alberta general election but won no seats. On October 29, 2019, it rebranded as the Independence Party of Alberta. The party has since experienced frequent leadership changes and continues to advocate for Alberta’s independence1.
The Independence Party of Alberta has seen multiple leaders since its re-formation, with periods of vacancy and interim appointments:
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: Interim leader during the party’s revival; resigned after the 2019 election1.
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: Elected leader in spring 20201.
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: Voted in as leader on September 12, 20211.
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: Became leader on September 10, 2022, after winning a leadership contest; removed six months later in March 2023, after which he founded the Solidarity Movement of Alberta156.
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: Named interim leader on October 3, 2023; resigned on January 31, 2024. She was the party’s best-performing candidate in the 2023 election, earning 4.71% of the vote in Olds-Didsbury-Three Hills15.
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: As of the latest records, the leadership position is vacant1.
The Independence Party of Alberta positions itself as a separatist party, advocating for a referendum on Alberta’s separation from Canada. It claims to be the only party with a direct path to independence and supports eliminating the party whip system to allow MLAs free votes on issues. The party has also expressed opposition to certain provincial policies, such as Bill 24 in 2017, citing concerns over parental involvement in education15.
The party has participated in several Alberta general elections but has not secured any seats in the Legislature. Below is a summary of its performance:
| Election Year | Leader | Candidates | Votes | Percentage | Seats Won | Position |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | Cory Morgan | 0 / 83 | 7,521 | 0.74% | 0 / 83 | No seats |
| 2019 | Dave Bjorkman | 63 / 87 | 13,481 | 0.72% | 0 / 87 | 5th |
| 2023 | Vacant | 14 / 87 | 5,045 | 0.29% | 0 / 87 | 5th |
In the 2001 election, notable individual results included Eileen Walker in Drumheller-Chinook with 8.9% of the vote and Jon Koch in Little Bow with 8.3%1.
As of the latest updates, the Independence Party of Alberta remains active but holds no seats in the Alberta Legislature (0/87). Its headquarters are located in Olds, Alberta, and Ron Robertson serves as president. The party continues to push for Alberta’s independence amidst a broader landscape of right-wing and separatist movements in the province, including other parties like the Wildrose Independence Party of Alberta and the Solidarity Movement of Alberta15.
This summary captures the key aspects of the Independence Party of Alberta’s history and current standing, reflecting its persistent but so far unsuccessful push for political representation and Alberta’s separation from Canada.
Citations:
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Independence_Party_of_Alberta
- https://efpublic.elections.ab.ca/efRCAs.cfm?MID=RC_18&PID=18
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wildrose_Independence_Party_of_Alberta
- https://efpublic.elections.ab.ca/efParty.cfm?MID=FP_18&PID=18
- https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/from-communists-to-separatists-meet-the-other-alberta-parties-in-this-year-s-election-1.6851868
- https://globalnews.ca/tag/alberta-independence-party/
- https://www.westernstandard.news/alberta/alberta-independence-parties-explore-unification/63527
- https://www.elections.ca/content2.aspx?section=can&dir=cand%2Flst%2FAB&document=index&lang=e
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