Jason Smith

Jason Stephan, the lone Alberta MLA who publicly encouraged people to sign a pro-separatist petition, quietly left his role within Premier Danielle Smith’s inner circle last month.

The departure of Smith’s parliamentary secretary of constitutional affairs came weeks before Smith declared her United Conservative caucus and cabinet is united behind the “remain” position on the Oct. 19 referendum she has announced. It will ask Albertans whether they want to stay in Canada or start the legal process toward a binding independence vote in the future.

The premier named Stephan, the outspoken MLA for Red Deer-South, to his role last May.

The appointment, one level below cabinet, was announced as the secessionist movement was readying its petition drive for an independence referendum, and Smith was about to launch the Alberta Next panel to help her province to “assert its constitutional jurisdiction” vis-a-vis Ottawa.

Stephan drew attention and criticism in late March when he penned an op-ed for the Western Standard calling on “all who love freedom and prosperity” to sign Stay Free Alberta’s petition to force an independence referendum, because Canada’s Constitution is “rigged against Alberta” and the status quo is unacceptable.

Smith, who insists her government supports a “sovereign Alberta” within Canada and isn’t pro-separatist, appeared to tolerate Stephan’s position.

“One voice in our caucus has a different perspective, and we are a caucus that allows for diversity of opinions,” she said on radio March 28.

Stephan’s missive led to scorn from the opposition, which chastised Smith’s team as pro-separatist.

“Her chief adviser on the Constitution is now a full-throated separatist, in writing, yet she’s doing nothing about it,” NDP Leader Naheed Nenshi charged in question period.

But less than two weeks later, Stephan left his position without announcing it.

In an email to CBC News, Stephan confirmed he resigned from his post on April 7. The backbencher did not say anything about his reasons for stepping down.

He remains a "valued member of our UCP caucus," said Sam Blackett, Smith's spokesperson, in a statement to CBC News.

"He chose to resign earlier this year from his role as Parliamentary Secretary but made it clear he is very supportive of the work of our government."

CBC News asked whether the premier had any discussions with the Red Deer MLA about his advocacy on separatism. The premier's office did not answer.

None of the other 46 United Conservative MLAs publicly promoted the separatist petition. While Stephan hasn’t directly advocated secession himself, the second-term MLA has stood out as one of his caucus’ fiercest critics of Ottawa and federalism.

When his provincial government posted a $9.4-billion budget deficit, Stephan defended it by declaring: “Alberta has an Ottawa problem.”

“ Thinking Alberta will get fairness from Ottawa is false hope, ” he wrote later that month on social media.