Billboards such as the one pictured here, have recently begun appearing in Saskatoon and Regina. (Submitted Photo/Prairie Freedom Movement)

By Brady Bateman

Separation conversation

Separatist billboards draw attention in Saskatchewan

Mar 4, 2019 | 5:20 PM

An organization pushing for western separation has recently launched a new billboard campaign in Saskatchewan and says Prince Albert may also be considered for it.

Residents of Saskatoon and Regina may have noticed several new billboards posing the question ‘Should Saskatchewan leave Canada?’

The billboards, created by The Prairie Freedom Movement, initially appeared throughout Alberta, and now are making their way throughout Saskatchewan and soon into Manitoba, according to organizers.

Prairie Freedom Movement spokesman, Peter Downing, said the billboards are just a start to their mission, and noted that residents should expect to see more in new locations in the future.

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“I started an organization in January of this year called Alberta Fights Back … we launched the ‘Should Alberta ditch Canada’ billboard campaign in Edmonton and Calgary and the response was overwhelming,” said Downing.

“I got connected with the Prairie Freedom Movement … and they invited me to join their leadership team and be their spokesman, and that’s how we developed the ‘Should Saskatchewan leave Canada?’ campaign.”

Downing noted the Prairie Freedom Movement designed the campaign to spark discussion regarding the growing idea of separatism, with the ultimate goal of not only creating conversation, but making a move towards a referendum on separation.

“We’re raising awareness about the economic exploitation in the west and political domination of the west, which is all tied into the fact that the current confederation system … is completely stacked against the west,” said Downing.

“This current situation is not tolerable, and regardless of if we have Conservative or Liberal politicians in power federally, it’s the same dynamic. So we are pushing towards referendum on the question of exiting the current confederation,” he said.

“Alberta and Saskatchewan alone, and the resources that we have … our people are the hardest working, with the highest ethics in all of Canada, and we don’t take other people’s stuff. You contrast that with an eastern-Canadian situation, where they are willing to not work, with our wealth to fund their social programs.”

Downing also noted that there has been an overwhelming response since the launch of the billboard campaign in Saskatoon and Regina.

“We’re not funded by big energy or big oil…it’s the hard working small business people, the people that work for them, and the families that rely on them… it’s really blue collar conservatism at its best,” said Downing.

“And we recognize that we’re being underrepresented by all establishment political parties, including the establishment conservatives.”

According to Downing, plans are in the works for further expansion of the billboard campaigns, with Prince Albert, the Battlefords and the Melfort area all in consideration for future billboard locations.

“It completely makes sense for places like Prince Albert and the Battlefords, any regions where it’s good hard working decent people, who don’t want to take other people’s stuff and recognize that western Canadian culture,” he said.

There are no regulations that would stop the Prairie Freedom Movement from applying for a billboard within the city of Prince Albert, according to Craig Guidinger, director of planning and development.

“For any type of billboard, regardless of who or what the advertisement is for, they do require a permit, which is obtained through the planning and development services department. We have our zoning bylaw which is currently in place, and there is a very specific billboard and permanent sign section in that document, and we make sure that is adhered to before we issue any permits,” said Guidinger.

“Regardless of what the message is… we have our communications manager, and we make sure we run all messages through her prior to allowing for the permit to be issued,” he said.

Guidinger added that it would be too early to comment whether a message such as separatism would be approved or not, but noted there are many methods to ensure no controversial content is posted in the city.

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Brady.bateman@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @TheDigitalBirdy