[8][9][10] The Wexit movement gained traction in October 2019, shortly after the 2019 Canadian federal election, when the Liberal Party under Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was re-elected to form government.

[14] On January 11, 2020, a Wexit rally was held at the Alberta legislature grounds with the goal of collecting the 8,400 signatures required for official party status.

According to the party, 478 members were registered to attend and vote on policy, approve a constitution, and elected a new Board of Governors.

Hinman was not a resident of the Fort McMurray or Lac La Biche regions, but denied he was an opportunist or ignorant of local issues facing the riding.

[33] He told Fort McMurray Today he was running as a candidate because he felt it was “the most important election in Alberta’s near-term history."

The review also wrote that Hinman was not familiar with the needs and concerns shared by people living in the riding, despite his commentary on community issues at local forums and in interviews with Harvard Media's CFVR-FM and Fort McMurray Today.

He told CTV News that the party was being taken over by "implants, plants, agents inside our board" who are opposed to an independent Alberta.