Leaders behind an Alberta separatist petition say they’ve reached the required number of signatures to trigger a provincial referendum or a legislative vote on the matter.
Jeffrey Rath, legal counsel for Stay Free Alberta, tells Global News the group has reached more than 177,732 signatures — 10 per cent of the total votes cast in the last provincial election.
The petition application proposes a “Referendum relating to Alberta Independence,” applicant Mitch Sylvestre wrote to Elections Alberta.
While Sylvestre did not immediately respond to a request for comment, according to his Citizen’s Petition application, Sylvestre aims to ask Albertans, “Do you agree that the Province of Alberta should cease to be part of Canada to become an independent state?”
The group began collecting signatures on Jan. 3, and has until May 2 as part of the official petitioning period, during which it intends to collect more signatures.
Elections Alberta says it won’t be able to verify the count until that time.
“Once they submit their signature sheets to Elections Alberta we will then count and verify the signatures,” an Elections Alberta spokesperson says in a statement.
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“They may choose to hand in their sheets before that date, in which case we could begin our verification process before the posted signature collection end date.”
Asked for her reaction to the organization’s claims that it has the required number of signatures, Premier Danielle Smith said during an unrelated event in Edmonton Tuesday that she has promised any petition that obtains the required number of signatures will be part of a planned referendum in the fall.
“I know that there are a lot of people who are very unhappy with Alberta as it has been treated over the years, andwhat I’m doing is I’m making the case for how we can have a sovereign Alberta within a united Canada,” said Smith.
“That means we stay a province and we go through and we address the very legitimate grievances that we have from Albertans, whether it’s taking control over immigration, whether it’s fighting against the gun confiscation program. That’s my agenda and it has been from the beginning. We have to make sure that we take the grievances seriously, and we have to address them. I’m hoping that I will be able to convince more and more people that Canada can work, and that this is the right path forward,” Smith added.
Former deputy premier Thomas Lukaszuk, who spearheaded another petition campaign called the Forever Canada campaign, helped collect over 400,000 signatures on his petition, which he believes shows where most Albertans stand on the referendum issue.
“By far the vast majority of Albertans are proud Canadians, so they wanted to sign this petition so I know they will come out if there is a referendum and they will vote to stay in Canada,” said Lukaszuk.
So far, Alberta’s UCP government has not decided whether to put the Forever Canada petition question, which asks “Do you agree that Alberta should remain within Canada?” to a referendum or a vote in the legislature.
The province is already planning to hold a referendum on several other issues on Oct. 19.
The proposal for the separation referendum will first need to be forwarded to the lieutenant-governor in council and the wording could be changed to make it more clear for voters.
And Rath will be pleased to see Trump absorb Alberta … IDIOT !
A lot of cope, a lot of ignorance, and a lot of vitriol coming from the Canada side. I can’t say I’m surprised, but this disgusting attitude is exactly why Alberta will become independent.
See ya, wouldn’t want to be ya, Canada.
@JV If you despise us, why do you want us to stay?
I love how these separatist losers always deflect to Quebec this Quebec that. Newsflash idiots… You’re not Quebec! Also most people in Canada like Quebec. Most Canadians despise Alberta. The only reason anyone even pays attention to Alberta is because that’s where most of CANADA’S oil is
After the vote to seperate fails, everyone in favor should be tried and convicted of Treason, which is still punishable by DEATH! Smarten up people.
Alberta needs to smarten the hell up. Without the rest of Canada Alberta has nothing.
Dainty the coolest, Britt classy lady👍👍
The cast
Dainty so cool. Brittany classy lady!
What happened to the four hundred and fifty six thousand people that signed to stay in Canada. Seperation people only got a one hundred and seventy seven thousand and have a longer time to get the numbers.
seems very easy to me the separatists haven’t got the numbers.
God bless Canada
“Premier Danielle Smith said during an unrelated event in Edmonton Tuesday that she has promised any petition that obtains the required number of signatures will be part of a planned referendum in the fall. . . . So far, Alberta’s UCP government has not decided whether to put the Forever Canada petition question, which asks “Do you agree that Alberta should remain within Canada?” to a referendum or a vote in the legislature.”
Self-contradictory much?
so, they want to seperate, but still keep the goodies of being part of canada. figures
Whoopee… Much ado about nothing!
Separation is the worst possible solution to Alberta’s perceived problems, if problems even exist. Regardless, separation would simply make Alberta’s problems worse, citizens far poorer and scare away investment.
Peter Smed: Yours is the most ignorant comment of all, and there are plenty of them. Most people I know that work full time (some even have to keep an extra job just to make ends meet) are voting for Alberta Independence. Does it help you cope pretending we are on EI?!? Your assumption is absolutely ridiculous.
JV doesn’t seem to like Democracy. By the way JV, their is nothing treasonous about voting for a better life.
The white elephant in the room here is that a large proportion of the population is so unhappy that they want to separate. There is a message here for all. These people need to be heard too. This is not a great situation!
This is great news! I am so PUMPED! The first hurdle of many, but you have to get over the first one to stay in the race! There is hope of prosperity for our kids, if even just a glimmer!
@JV Do you say that to all the Québécois who voted to separate? Or just your fellow Albertans?
I’ve got a better idea for these separatists. When you lose your bid to leave Canada and you will lose… you should actually leave Canada. Like actually pack up your sh1t and leave. Canada has no place for traitors like you
Sure there even let’s say 200,000 votes; however that’s just about 10% of the population of almost 41,000,000 other Canadian that DO NOT AGREE with this. I for one ame one of them. I personally feel; along with many, others this would leave us vulnerable. I have visited a couple of these signature gathering locations here in Calgary, Alberta and debated with the petitioners. A major part of their disagreements that they are choosing to use as examples as why they should separate are examples that have nothing to do with Alberta.
I personally feel that legislation should take into consideration what type of examples they are using to justify the reasoning as to why Alberta would like to separate. To me this is wrong and should be overviewed and considered as part of the review when presented to legislation. This should most definitely be a contributing factor when looking to make a decision. In fact the whole argument regarding the issues should be also considered when coming to a review over the decision. That is proper representation.
As well let’s not forget about the indigenous opinions views and points in regards to the separation issue. I myself am identified as indigenous from the Siksika Nation. This should also as well be taken into consideration during the reviewing process. The indigenous population alone is almost 1.9 million, which is a huge number and factor when considering this issue.
And finally, I feel people need to be a little bit more informed about the situations impacting our country from our representatives and our Parliament members who work hard along side our leader and Prime Minister Mark Carney. If people are so naive to not realize what this man has done for our country and basically the world you definitely need to educate yourself. He has done an outstanding, historical and amazing job representing our country. I’m proud to be a Canadian, at this time in history thanks to Mark Carney and our government, things are about to change drastically in Canada’s favor we would be absolutely insane to separate. Snap out of it people find out your facts, not just what’s in the headlines. I would call that laziness and ignorance.
I for one was born and raised here in Calgary Alberta. And as a Alberta in, Canadian I am absolutely proud that Alberta is part of Canada and a huge contributing factor in our social network and our governing and what we contribute to the world. Times are changing we should be working with our fellow Canadians not against them.
Now the separatists, who are apparently unemployed, have something to do. When you lose resoundingly please leave so that we can get our province and country going. Collecting EI is not helpful.
Have these separatists and of course Mr rath even looked into how long and tedious a process it would be? Along with the fact that most of the land is not owned by the province and the consequences of separating.
So, these indi-wannabees are going to live in pockets between those who doesn’t want to join their quagmire nation. Here’s a little info: you will face the same blockage as those trying to run pipelines on lands who doesn’t want pipelines. Maybe you guys can build tunnels between these pockets of independent Alberta. LOL!
They were collecting signatures here. However they did not discuss Alberta separation from Canada. They discussed Alberta independence. Suggesting that we could remain a province within Canada, but gain more independence. The petition and advertizing were done without any information about what separation would look like.
Just like Quebec, when the question is clear, the answer is a resounding no.
Who cares
@ Anonymous Last I heard, they were hoping to hit 3MM total signatures. You may want to start packing.
The forever Canada Petition had 460,000 signatures and the Separatists have announced 177,000 and wish to trigger a referendum.