Alberta separatist Jeff Rath kicked out of governing United Conservative Party

In an email, the party's executive director said Rath had "made clear" he did "not support" the party.

In an email, the party said he had 'made clear' he did 'not support' party

Alex Boyd · CBC News

· Posted: Oct 30, 2026 5:07 PM EDT | Last Updated: 17 minutes ago

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Separatist leader Jeff Rath, who rose to prominence in the lead-up to the Alberta referendum in his white cowboy hat, has had his membership revoked by the governing United Conservative Party.

In an email sent to Rath on Thursday and viewed by CBC News, Dustin Van Vugt, the party's executive director, said that Rath's "words and actions have made clear" that he does not support the party or its objectives.

"Your public conduct in relation to our party and leader has not met the basic standard of decency we expect of our members when they disagree or otherwise."

His membership was revoked immediately, Van Vugt wrote.

In a phone call, Rath said he knew why he was being singled out.

"Because I'm a very loud and effective critic of Danielle Smith," he said.

"She obviously does not want free speech in the party."

Rath said he also received an email from the UCP notifying him the party had refunded the $239 he paid in order to attend next month's AGM.

Rath and Smith have publicly sparred over their differing views on Alberta’s place in Confederation, and their debates have occasionally veered into more personal territory. 

Earlier this week, Rath accused Smith of colluding with federalist leader Thomas Lukaszuk in a text exchange he posted online. When NDP Leader Naheed Nenshi questioned Smith about it, the premier noted Rath’s prior financial contributions to the Opposition party.

Speaking to reporters Friday, Smith confirmed the party's executive director had pulled Rath's membership.

"He’s never supported me ... He never supported me during the leadership, he never supported me in my time in office, and he certainly doesn’t support me now," she said.

"That’s irrelevant," she added. "What is relevant is that he has said publicly things like he wants to come to the AGM to turn the UCP into an independence party. And we are not an independence party."

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Alex Boyd is a senior reporter based in Calgary, interested in politics, provincial affairs and misinformation. She is a former national and investigative reporter for the Toronto Star. Reach her at alex.boyd@cbc.ca.