Thank you to everyone who took time on a mid-summer long weekend to attend. Due to the number of SPA t-shirts at the steps of the Alberta Legislature, it almost seemed SPA organized the event! The topics of other speakers were unrelated to the message of the Separation Party of Alberta. Mr. Hutton spoke about the need for Albertans to take responsibility for their future through the only viable option left – separation from Canada. The text of Mr. Hutton's speech follows:

"I would like to thank you for not only taking the time, but also having the courage to attend this rally. I would like to give you a brief history of the Separation Party of Alberta.

The idea to form this party materialized at a meeting in Red Deer in February 2003. The Separation Party of Alberta became a registered provincial political party in June 2004. We have united the real separatists in Alberta. The Party ran 12 candidates in the November 2004 election. I am proud to tell you we accomplished in 16 months what it took Quebeckers 16 years to accomplish.

Ladies and Gentlemen: We are not wild-eyed, irrational, raving morons and lunatics. The founders of this political party were once proud Canadians. They are honest people who found that they could no longer be proud of what Canada has become. Most important, they are dedicated Albertans.

These people are honest, hardworking, morally responsible people, disgusted with the actions of the Canadian federal government over the last 40 years. They have the vision to see what the future holds for Alberta without major changes, political and social, that cannot happen inside Canadian confederation. Without a doubt, they were and still are frustrated with Klein's continuous political defeats in his dealings with Ottawa. The administration of this Party has well-founded concerns about the depletion of oil and gas reserves - the sole engine of our economy - and the lack of economic diversification of Alberta business.

I am the founder of this Party and I was once a proud Canadian.

My ancestors were United Empire Loyalists who came to Canada in the 1700's. I represented Canada internationally on a coaching exchange for the national hockey team of the Peoples' Republic of China. I am a former member of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. I was raised a capital "C" Canadian, small "c" conservative by a WWII veteran who flew the Union Jack until his passing on Christmas Day 2003. I know I qualify as a once proud Canadian.

As it relates to becoming a separatist, you must understand I have been frustrated by the deterioration of the social and economic fibres of this country. Alberta has unfortunately financed this deterioration, for over forty years.

The thing that pushed me off the whiner's fence and into action was Alberta farmers going to jail for doing what Eastern farmers can do – sell their produce. Because of the Canadian Wheat Board monopoly over Western producers, our farmers were sent to jail for trying to operate in a market economy. It forced me into action and put many good Albertans on the path of confrontation with Ottawa and Premier Ralph Klein.

The West has tried to get into the Canadian confederation and become an equal for decades, with no positive results.

To support our separatist position, I could discuss:
  -   The National Energy Program – who could forget Pierre Elliott Trudeau's one-finger salute to Westerners?
  -   The Firearms Registry that the previous speaker spoke on
  -   Mismanaged health care that is a constant federal/provincial battle
  -   Adscam
  -   And a myriad of other occurrences that have alienated Western Canadians over the last 40 years.

There are continuous examples of total political and bureaucratic incompetence, mismanagement and now criminal activities that waste billions of taxpayers' dollars. And Albertans can't stop it.

The Separation Party of Alberta believes the only issue is whether or not today's Albertans are truly concerned about the economic future of the province of Alberta and the quality of life of future Albertans.

The issue is whether or not you believe there is an economic future for Albertans if we continue to mismanage the excess revenue from our non-renewable resources – oil and gas.

The issue is whether or not you believe Alberta will survive the current economic drain to Ottawa that prevents economic diversifications of our economy here in Alberta.

Believe it or not, the issue is whether you want Alberta to be a "Have" or a "Have Not" region in the future. That is the only true issue. Ask yourself: Who will pay for Alberta's needs when oil and gas run out or become obsolete due to environmental concerns? Who will pay for Alberta when she becomes a "Have Not" province?

Separation would keep Alberta money in Alberta. We would be in a position to maintain our roads, educate our children, build a strong healthcare system and establish ourselves as the strongest economy in the free world. The possibilities are mind-boggling.

You have to know that with this hard-line stand for separation, we will be persecuted in the mainstream media unless our reasons for wanting separation are well founded, presented rationally, with solid facts and without emotional rhetoric.

Central Canadian will say that we are greedy, that we are rednecks and that we lack compassion for the rest of Canada. Let them say what they will. That is fine. Hopefully they are finally catching on. Perhaps the Eagles hit song "Get Over It" is appropriate.

It is time for all concerned Albertans to lead their fellow citizens towards this noble goal. It is time for those of us who can think outside the box to educate Albertans of the advantages of separation. We are asking all Albertans to take an objective look at our concerns to see if they have merit or are frivolous.

The past has been wonderful for most Albertans. The present is at least comfortable for most and frankly, things are good. But make no mistake, the future for Alberta is dismal at best, if we don't make serious changes. The financial bleeding will turn Alberta into a "Have Not" province. Many of you are skeptical. We are currently the only debt-free province in Canada. But at what cost?

Here is the latest brainwave emanating from the building behind me – a good one for all you skeptics to heed. Transportation Minister Lyle Oberg is suggesting Alberta borrow seven billion dollars to repair roads, schools, hospitals and other major infrastructure. This is four billion dollars less than we transferred net to Ottawa in 2003 that never returned to Alberta – our cost to be Canadian.

Ladies and gentlemen: Confederation for Alberta is unique. We pay hundreds of billions of dollars to be Canadian because of revenues from a non-renewable resource, but we have to borrow money to repair our roads, schools and hospitals. Someone has to show me the Alberta advantage in that.

How do we fix it? We certainly don't fix it by doing nothing.

I would ask you to check our policies and principles, on our website, www.separationalberta.com.

When Albertans vote to form their own country, with our wealth from the oil and gas industry and the Alberta work ethic, we will become what we so richly deserve, the best place to live for generations, with the finest quality of life in the world.

In order to accomplish this major, positive overhaul of our system, our only option is to separate.

Threatening separation will accomplish some things. To establish a truly just and moral democratic society run by the people, Alberta must go its own way.

Forming this provincial party was the first step. The next step is to educate Albertans that separation will work and is in their best interest. After that, we win a majority in the provincial legislative assembly and negotiate the terms of the separation with the federal government.

Let me say no one has suggested this is going to be easy. It isn't.

Central Canada is pillaging Alberta financially, and they don't want to give up control of Alberta, the "golden goose." Make no mistake about that. If we don't stop it, there is no hope for the diversification of our economy, the maintenance of our quality of life, or the viable future of Alberta. If we don't make significant changes while we are a wealthy province, there is definitely no hope for a strong, viable future for Alberta.

We need your help. We need the help of all Albertans. Now that you have heard our message, are you willing to help? There is much to do. Tell your family, friends and associates about us and check out website, separationalberta.com. Make a donation to our party and get a break on your income tax. Become a member and help organize in your constituency. Explore the possibilities of becoming a SPA candidate in the next provincial election. And, at the very least, vote for the Separation Party of Alberta in the winter of 2007, or the spring of 2008, whenever the next provincial election is held.

If we were a high-tech, well-funded organization, we would have had appropriate music for our presentation. The introductory music may have been Canadian Randy Bachman's "Taking Care Of Business" because that is exactly what we are doing. Our closing song would be Canadian group Trooper's "Raise A Little Hell" because that is exactly what we are going to do between now and the next provincial election.

Thank you."