2020, Alberta Referendum (President Pence)

The 2020 Alberta independence referendum was the first referendum to ask voters in Alberta whether Alberta should start negotiations with the federak government and become an independent country.

Background
Following Justin Trudeau's re-election in the 2019 Canadian federal election Albertans felt unrepresented and more and more Albertans wanted independence. The Wexit Party was founded by former Christian Heritage Party candidate Peter Downing in an effort to campaign for Albertan independence.

Conservative MP Chris Warkentin defected to the Wexit Party in April 2020. Him and other conservative Albertan MPs started debating Albertan independence and autonomy in the House of Commons.

After a packed leadership election Peter Downing was elected leader of the party in the last round. Chris Warkentin said late in the campaign he'd intend to run however he decided not to. He won numerous write-in votes in Alberta.

Peter Downing's provincial Wexit Party defeated Jason Kenney's United Conservative Party after running on a very social-conservative and populist platform. Albertan independence was not mentioned in the electoral campaign. Peter Downing promised a referendum in his first mandate however this was opposed by his colleague Chris Warketin.

Following the resignation of numerous UCP member of parliament the opposition parties called for a confidence vote and rhe government was narrowly defeated by one vote. The election date had been set for September and Derek Fildebrandt's Freedom Conservative Party, Peter Downing's Wexit Alberta Party and David Khan's Liberals formed the "Radiant Alberta" party. This big tent party was very pro-oil is and was in favour of more autonomy or even independence for Alberta. Chris Warketin led this party.

The Radiant Alberta Party made a coalition with the New Democratic Party and the Alberta Party allowing them to narrowly defeat the unpopular UCP,

The new government then called for a referendum.

Campaign Period
The government expected fhe campaign to last fourth months and was supposed to end on December 22nd 2020.

The leader of the pro-independence side was Chris Warkentin a popular social-conservative member of parliament for the conservatives. The pro-canada side was led by especially un-popular Albertan Randy Boissonnault.

Replacement of Boissonnault
Randy Boissonnault was re-called to Ottawa so he could advise the prime minister on Albertan affairs. This was clearly a trick to remove Boissonnault as leader of the campaign.

He was replaced by the liberal, Kent Hehr and the conservative, Stephen Harper.

Independence Concert and Debates
A few days before the end of the campaign the YES commitee organized a large concert where famous singers like Crystal Plamondon, Armond Duck Chief, Mariel Buckley and Laura Vinson sung, Michelle Rempel Garner, Chris Warketin and David Khan spoke.

The NO commitee hosted a much smaller concert with the only famous person playing being Nuela Charles and having no public speakers. Four debates were hosted and all of them in english. The first one was Randy Boissoneault against Chris Warketin, Kent Hehr against Chris Warkenrin, Kent Hehr against Chris Warketin and Stephen Harper against Chris Warkentin.

Prime Ministerial Appearances
The NO commitee deemed it a bad idea for Justin Trudeau to appear during the campaign therefore all he did was be at campaign headquarters in Edmonton.

Results
Following the great campaigning made by the NO commitee and the horrible campaign lead by the YES commitee Albertans voted to stay with Canada. The voter turnout was of 70%.

Aftermath and International Response
Prime Minister Trudeau went on to get re-elected in 2021 defeating Peter MacKay. The Radiant Alberta party merged into the new Progressive-Conservatives and Wildrose. David Khan refounded the liberals but he was defeated in a confidence vote.

All countries recognized the referendum results at the exception of Somaliland. In the 98 countries who took a stance on the referendum only Russia supported the YES side,