Dear Brothers and Sisters in Alberta’s Hutterite Colonies,
With deep respect for your enduring commitment to faith, family, and freedom, the Alberta Prosperity Project reaches out to you. Your colonies have long been a cornerstone of our province’s heritage, living out values of communal stewardship, honest labour, and devotion to God. Alberta’s strength owes much to your diligence in tending the land and upholding traditions that honour family and community.
Yet, these cherished ways of life face growing threats from federal policies in Ottawa that often overlook the needs of rural, faith-based communities like yours. As Albertans who share a love for this land, we believe it’s time to consider a better path: a sovereign Alberta where decisions are made by those who best understand our values and needs.
Safeguarding Religious Freedom and Charitable Status
Your colonies rely on the ability to operate as faith-based communities, including tax exemptions that support communal living and charitable works. In December 2024, Ottawa’s Standing Committee on Finance recommended removing “advancement of religion” as a charitable purpose under the Income Tax Act. If implemented, this could strip faith-based organizations – including Hutterite colonies – of charitable status, property tax exemptions, and the right to issue donation receipts. Sources indicate this would impact nearly 40% of Canada’s charities, many rooted in religious service.
In a sovereign Alberta, we could enshrine religious freedom directly in our constitution, ensuring your colonies remain protected without interference from distant bureaucrats.
Protecting the Right to Share Scripture Freely
Canada’s federal government is now moving to remove long-standing protections from the Criminal Code that shield good-faith religious expression. Under the current law, statements based on a religious text – such as reading or teaching from the Bible – are protected from hate-speech charges when made sincerely. Recent amendments to Bill C-9 (the Combating Hate Act) would eliminate this exemption, raising the real risk that certain Bible passages could be deemed “hate speech” and lead to criminal prosecution.
This threatens the core of your daily life: Bible study, preaching, teaching children the Scriptures, and sharing God’s Word within your community. Federal overreach could chill or criminalize the very act of living out your faith openly. A sovereign Alberta would allow us to constitutionally protect religious expression and prevent Ottawa from ever labelling sacred texts as illegal.
Securing Property Rights for Future Generations
Canada’s Charter does not explicitly protect property rights, leaving land ownership vulnerable to changes in federal or provincial laws. Your colonies’ farms and homes – built through generations of hard work – deserve ironclad security.
Sovereignty would allow Alberta to embed strong property rights in a new constitution, safeguarding your communal lands for your children and grandchildren.
Preserving Farming Practices from Federal Overreach
Ottawa’s policies increasingly impact rural life. The federal target aims to reduce fertilizer-related emissions by 30% by 2030. While described as voluntary, farmers across Alberta worry about rising costs, lower yields, and supply chain disruptions. Additionally, electric vehicle mandates require 20% of new sales by 2026, rising to 60% by 2030 and 100% by 2035. Though farm machinery is currently exempt, ripple effects on transportation, equipment costs, and energy will be felt in colonies.
A sovereign Alberta could make farming decisions locally – by Albertans who know the soil, the seasons, and the importance of feeding families.
Opening Markets and Keeping Prosperity at Home
Federal trade mismanagement has hurt access to global markets for beef, canola, and grains. Meanwhile, from 2007 to 2022, Albertans contributed a net $244.6 billion more to Ottawa than received back – wealth drained from rural communities, including yours, to fund programs elsewhere.
The Alberta Prosperity Project’s Value of Freedom plan outlines how sovereignty could benefit colonies:
- Lower costs for fuel, equipment, and operations by retaining tax dollars in Alberta.
- Improved rural healthcare and infrastructure, closer to your elders and families.
- Direct trade negotiations for fairer prices on your products.
- Stronger community-based support for seniors and vulnerable members.
- Prosperity generated here stays here, allowing colonies to thrive.
A Sovereign Alberta Rooted in Faith, Family, and Farming
Imagine an Alberta where our constitution explicitly protects religious freedoms, property rights, and local control over agriculture. Where the hard-earned fruits of your labour benefit your community first.
The Alberta Prosperity Project invites your leadership to discuss these ideas. We would be honoured to meet at your convenience, listen to your concerns, and explore how sovereignty can uphold the values you hold dear.
With sincere gratitude for your contributions to Alberta,
Mitch Sylvestre CEO, Alberta Prosperity Project www.albertaprosperityproject.com
Faith Family Freedom Come On Let’s Go!
Download this pamphlet, print it off, and please share with your Hutterite friends and family in your community.
