Leaders behind an Alberta separatist petition have confirmed they have surpassed 177,732 signatures, meeting the threshold to trigger a provincial referendum or legislative vote on independence. This figure represents 10 percent of the total votes cast in the last provincial election.
The petition, initiated by the group Stay Free Alberta, proposes a referendum asking Albertans if they agree that Alberta should cease to be part of Canada to become an independent state. The group began collecting signatures on January 3, 2024, and has until May 2, 2024 to finalize their count.
Once submitted, Elections Alberta will verify the signatures. Alberta Premier Danielle Smith has stated, “I have said that any citizen initiative that gets the requisite number of signatures will be put on the ballot.” This commitment has fueled the separatist movement’s momentum.
The province is also planning to hold a referendum on several questions on October 19, 2024, which raises questions about whether the independence question will be included on that ballot.
Opposition NDP Leader Naheed Nenshi criticized the government, stating, “The half a million Albertans who signed the ‘Forever Canadian’ petition are still waiting for their day in the legislature.” He labeled the current situation as “not democracy” but rather a premier “grasping for power.”
Details remain unconfirmed regarding the exact wording of the referendum question, which may change before it is presented to voters. The political landscape in Alberta continues to shift as both sides prepare for a potentially contentious debate over the province’s future.