Peter Downing
CEO, founder of the Alberta USA foundation
Assumed office
August 2020
Leader of Wexit Canada
In office
January 10, 2020 – June 23, 2020
Preceded byParty founded
Succeeded byJay Hill
Personal details
BornCirca 1975
Newmarket, Ontario
Political partyMaverick
Christian Heritage
Military service
AllegianceCanada
Branch/serviceCanadian Mounted Police
RankOfficer

Peter Downing is an Albertan separatist and the former leader of Wexit Canada, now known as the Maverick Party.[1] Downing founded Wexit Canada in the aftermath of Justin Trudeau's re-election in the 2019 Canadian federal election.[1] Downing is also a former member of the Canadian Armed Forces and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, serving from 2006 to 2015. He received a conditional discharge for uttering threats against his ex-wife in 2009.[2] Downing stepped aside as leader of Wexit Canada in June after recruiting interim leader and former Conservative Member of Parliament Jay Hill.[3]

Downing was previously a candidate for the Christian Heritage Party of Canada in the 2015 Canadian federal election.[4] Downing created two organizations, Alberta Fights Back and Saskatchewan Fights Back, both of which served as vehicles for his separatist activism.[5] Through this work he became affiliated with the Prairie Freedom Movement, later becoming their spokesperson.[6]

In August 2020, Downing launched the Alberta USA Foundation, along with high visibility billboards in Edmonton and Ottawa, bearing the image of US President Donald Trump, asking the question, "Should Alberta Join the USA?"[7]

Promotion of conspiracy theories

Downing is reported to have promoted multiple conspiracy theories including accusations that Justin Trudeau left his teaching position over sexual misconduct and that the Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation was secretly normalizing pedophilia.[4]

Electoral record

2015 Canadian federal election: Edmonton Mill Woods
Party Candidate Votes%±%Expenditures
LiberalAmarjeet Sohi20,42341.24+29.52$136,379.94
ConservativeTim Uppal20,33141.06-17.88$126,472.41
New DemocraticJasvir Deol6,33012.78-12.61$55,302.53
GreenRalph McLean1,0962.21-0.78$1,671.63
IndependentColin Stubbs5601.13–$5,091.44
LibertarianAllen K.W. Paley3960.80––
Christian HeritagePeter Downing2850.58–$3,798.53
CommunistNaomi Rankin960.19––
Total valid votes/Expense limit 49,51799.54 $206,234.63
Total rejected ballots 2270.46–
Turnout 49,74467.84–
Eligible voters 73,323
Liberal gain from Conservative Swing +23.70
These results were subject to a judicial recount,[8] and modified from the validated results in accordance with the Judge's rulings. The margin of Sohi over Uppal increased from 79 votes to 92 votes as a result of the recount.[9]
Source: Elections Canada[10][11]

References

  1. 1 2 Dryden, Joel (January 11, 2020). "Wexit party granted eligibility for next federal election". CBC. Retrieved July 1, 2020.
  2. ↑ Dawson, Tyler (August 25, 2019). "Is a Wexit in Alberta's future?". National Post. Retrieved July 1, 2020.
  3. ↑ Rieger, Sarah (June 23, 2020). "Jay Hill, former House leader under Harper, named interim head of separatist party Wexit Canada". CBC. Retrieved July 1, 2020.
  4. 1 2 Zhou, Steven (October 30, 2019). "#Wexit Founders Are Far-Right Conspiracy Theorists". Vice. Retrieved July 1, 2020.
  5. ↑ Sahlmueller, Elisabeth. "Issues with the Prairie Freedom Movement". The Carillion. Retrieved July 1, 2020.
  6. ↑ Bateman, Brady (March 4, 2019). "Separatist billboards draw attention in Saskatchewan". Battlefords Now. Retrieved July 1, 2020.
  7. ↑ "Wexit's Founder Explained Why He Thinks Alberta Has to Ditch Canada & Join the U.S." September 4, 2020.
  8. ↑ "Tim Uppal's request for Edmonton-Mill Woods recount granted by judge". CBC News. October 23, 2015. Retrieved October 29, 2015.
  9. ↑ "Judicial recount results arriving after narrow election wins". CBC News. October 30, 2015. Retrieved October 31, 2015.
  10. ↑ "October 19, 2015 Election Results — Edmonton Mill Woods (Results as Certified by a Judge)". Elections Canada. October 29, 2015. Retrieved November 4, 2015.
  11. ↑ Elections Canada – Final Candidates Election Expenses Limits
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