Independence Party of Alberta candidate Bob Blayone poses for a photo in Redcliff on Oct. 19.--News Photo Collin Gallant
cgallant@medicinehatnews.com@CollinGallant
Bob Blayone says his Métis heritage has instilled in him a love of freedom that drew him to the Independence Party of Alberta.
That’s why the Peace River man who spent decades in the oilpatch and supporting traditional conservative parties is in the Brooks-Medicine Hat byelection to challenge United Conservative leader Danielle Smith for the seat.
But, he says, his party is not a single-issue entry, and has strong stances against pandemic health restrictions, perceived intrusions by Ottawa and moves to net-zero carbon emissions.
“My independence, your independence as a sovereign human being is where it all starts,” Blayone told the News.
“We want to have a successful referendum on independence to give Albertans the strong leverage to say to Ottawa ‘OK, let’s negotiate. There are imbalances and we’d like to negotiate.’ Then it’s on their shoulders.”
Blayone, 54, was born in Taber and spent younger years in Raymond before his family of 11 relocated to Peace River. He is a retired owner of an oil servicing company, and has two adult children with his wife, Dana.
He told the News he became disillusioned with the UCP after decades supporting PCs and volunteering in 2019 when he felt insiders were winning favours.
The government’s response to the COVID, bringing in masking and capacity restrictions at businesses at times, then a passport system, were, to Blayone, massive infringements on personal liberty that led to his exit.
In two weeks as new leader Smith has made strong statements against pandemic management, in favour of unvaccinated groups that stirred controversy, but for Blayone and up to 100 people who have attended local party events, she hasn’t gone far enough.
“The conversations that I’ve had in the region, it’s been inspiring,” said Blayone, the party’s vice-president of membership, in a speech to supporters at Redcliff this week.
“There’s a lot of frustration here as well as the north, and it’s time to try something new, take action and truly make a difference for meaningful change in our province.”
Blayone opposes moves to curb carbon emissions in favour of supporting oil and gas production. He is against COVID vaccinations in general, health measures like masking and supports amnesty for those who opposed health measures brought in by the government in 2021 and largely removed last winter.
That group includes party leader Artur Pawlowski, who is currently before the courts on charges he flagrantly broke health regulations holding overcapacity church services.
Pawlowski has been in the Hat several times during the campaign, and Blayone said his leader, though controversial for many Albertans, is “a strength, not a hindrance,” he said.
Blayone said Smith is speaking out of both sides of her mouth on climate change.
“She’s embraced carbon credits, carbon capture, net zero, while condemning fertilizer reduction and carbon taxes,” he said. “It’s all part of the same agenda.”
As well, he says the Sovereignty Act that would be Bill 1 of Smith’s government will not ultimately work.
“Smith has already back tracked and said they will respect the Supreme Court, and that’s it – it’s over,” he said.
“All these promises, to end equalization, to end the carbon tax and all the promises, it’s untenable unless the Constitution is reopened.”
Five candidates, including New Democrat Gwen Dirk, Alberta Party Leader Barry Morishita and Wildrose Independence Party candidate Javeen Mangat, will be on the ballot on Nov. 8.
