EDMONTON – A Nova Scotia native and Alberta oilsands worker will lead a newly formed secession from Canada movement in the Western province.

36-year-old Gord McGovern of Antigonish will lead The Republic of Alberta Party, which will take up a large portion of the ten months of the year he spends in Fort McMurray.

“Albertans have a distinct identity of not being from here, and the Canadian government no longer represents who we are,” said the haul truck operator to a crowd of supporters. “From St. John’s to Saint John, we are the true Albertans.”

In his first stump speech, McGovern declared a referendum would be held after his 2023 provincial election victory, but not before he buys his second boat on his large Nova Scotian property.

McGovern took a jab at Ontario-born Premier Jason Kenney for being weak with the federal government, rising unemployment, and too few direct flights back to Nova Scotia.

“Like we say in Fort Mac, Kenney will fill his boots with promises, but buddy is going nowhere real fast,” said McGovern in his unique Albertan dialect.

Polls indicate that McGovern is very popular with specific provincial demographics such as the ones from PEI, New Brunswick, and Newfoundlanders.

As a sign of his commitment to the movement, the separatist leader will be marching to the nearest Service Alberta to finally change his driver’s license.