An Alberta judge has put up a roadblock on a petition drive to force a vote on the province quitting Canada.
Justice Shaina Leonard, in a written decision issued Friday afternoon, says Alberta separatism organizers can continue collecting signatures.
But she says Elections Alberta can’t verify those names or otherwise refer the matter to Premier Danielle Smith’s government until an overall decision is issued on the associated First Nations’ court challenge.
Lawyers for multiple First Nations are calling for Alberta’s citizen-initiated referendum process and a separatist group’s use of it to be halted, saying without due consultation it amounts to a treaty violation and is unconstitutional.
They were in court in Edmonton this week trying to get the petition drive stopped in the meantime.
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Will a court shut down Alberta group’s separation referendum petition? -
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Alberta government lawyers push back against First Nation attempt to kill separatism petition -
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First Nations protest as Alberta separatism court battle continues -
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Sturgeon Lake Cree Nation asks court to block Alberta separation referendum
Lawyers for the Alberta government argued against it by saying until the province acts on a referendum there is nothing it legally needs to consult on.
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In her judgment, Leonard said there are serious issues at play and First Nations’ interests would be harmed if she didn’t issue a temporary pause before making a final decision in the next few weeks.
“The applicants have provided evidence of harm from lack of consultation and harm to treaty relationships,” Leonard wrote in the decision.
“To be clear, the court is not staying the collection of signatures; this decision has no impact whatsoever on the signature collection period or when that period expires (on May 2).
“Rather, the court is staying the next steps in the process.”
A group named Stay Free Alberta says it has already collected enough signatures to force a provincewide vote on leaving Canada, and Smith has promised if such a petition is verified, the issue will go on the ballot.
Stay Free Alberta needs close to 178,000 names and it said last week that it already surpassed that total.
The judge’s decision effectively stops Elections Alberta from taking steps to verify those names should Stay Free Alberta decide to submit them earlier, before the May 2 deadline.
Well. I guess the first nations will have to hash all this out with the yanks when Trump takes over. Wonder how that will work out. Lol
I’m an Alberta separatist and I like big co ck, especially indigenous ones
No pipelines are going to be built until after October. Danielle Smith wants action now but she’ shot herself in the foot by allowing this referendum.
So sad that losers can’t respond with anything because they are too stupid so they fake being other people.
Who ever faked my name in the last post, I know you do lol!
All I do all day is swallow co ck.
I’m so freakin gay!!!
Canadian military recruitment is highest in Ontario and Quebec, which account for over 55% of currently serving personnel.
Law school is where the money is under Danielle. Not med school! Not education. Law.
Lawsuits on her dumb recall laws, lawsuits on referendums, lawsuits on separation, lawsuits on notwithstanding challenges…etc.
And she wants to appoint her own judges. bwahahahahaha….enjoy paying all the lawyers!!!
@idiot nacho: Google isn’t even Canadian and you think they are? Indigenous Canadians are just that you racist goof. Why are you here with your grade 2?
A tempest in a ‘P-pot’.
Elections Alberta-certified Citizen Initiative Petition—over 404,293 Albertans signed it to show they want to stay in Canada. While less than 180,000 signed the ‘stay free Alberta’ petition. Let them do the referendum. It will go for a vote which will be turned down by intelligent Albertans, problem solved. The only ones benefiting from this are lawyers who will accomplish nothing.
Why do we put up with all these different native groups there all the same people,no different than when your kids move to start over in a different town,there all related
Here we go again judges appointed by the feds interfering with provincial affairs,need a vote yes or no,nothing else
All they have is oil. Traitors, pack your bags and move. Real simple. If not let’s have a civil war and bomb them into oblivion. That goes for the traitors in quebec also.
@King
Calling the people that grow the food and raise the livestock that you need to eat to survive ‘morons’ requires a special kind of stupid.
Funny how these ‘morons’ are the richest province in Canada, while the Eastern elites have to beg them for handouts in order to survive.
Jason…………………………………Siksika Indian Reserve #146. Stoney 142, 143, 144 is an Indian reserve of the Stoney Nakoda . Tsuu T’ina Nation 145 is an Indian reserve. Ermineskin 138 is an Indian reserve.
Jason Kenney….Have a look on google maps if you don’t believe me.
@Nacho: Are you that stupid? India is south of China dumb ass. Danielle Smith skull voter much?
Why do we call Indians the first nations? when you look on maps and they are labeled “Indian reserve”. If the earth is as old as they say it is then who was here before them and after Carney sells us out to China do the Indians think they will get any more free cash?
Law school is where it’s at in Smithberta.
Not med school or education. Law. Referendums, dumb recalls, notwithstanding challenges….lawyers will make a fortune. No one else though.
@Guy
Let me guess – you have a “No Hate Here” sign on your front lawn?
This will give twat Smith time to excavate around Red Deer as that’s going to have to be her deep sea port if the First Nations let her. Fun watching rednecks like Glen.
Too soon to rush to judgment on the judge. Let it play out, see what happens.
Achieving Alberta Independence will not be easy, but it will happen eventually. There will be many battles and setbacks. Stay calm, stay focused, stay principled, stay rational.
Appeasing the separatists Aboriginals! How lame!!
And isn’t judge Leonard a native? Her last name would be a dead giveaway. No wonder she’s biased.
This province cannot be held hostage by First Nations. They can vote for or against like everyone else. It’s time Treaty Rights were done away with. I don’t believe a group that represent 4% of the population dictates terms to the other 96%. This thorn in the side of Canada and every other country in the world that has this problem has to be removed. Times have changed since these treaties were signed and are no longer legitimate in today’s world.
Oh gee….Danielle didn’t check the law first. Go figure.
@Jimmie: You are full of it. Get an education.
Hey uneducated Anonymous!!Who do you think supports the rest of Canada ! Alberta the richest province. Thats why the crooks in Ontario and Quebec will never let it happen. But there’s always MAID for you people !
Good. Block those traitors from separating from Canada. Now we just need to find a way to around them all up and put every single one of them in jail for trying to destroy Canada. Confiscate their assets like bank accounts and properties, and give them to people who actually want to be part of Canada. We need to “get rid of” these traitors.
Im cool with Alberta separating, but how are you guys going to function as a country in pockets of land surrounded by those who wants to stay in Canada and not want to be part of rightnut country. You guys going to build tunnels to connect these land pockets? Cool! That would attract tourists.
The natives have no leg to stand on for their court challenge. That has already been proven in Quebec. so why is this judge so daft? She needs to step down as incompetent to make any ruling.
Queen Elizabeth signed native treaties, not Queen Danielle.
So sad watching timid federal judges ideologically captured by the amorphous spectre of “indiginous consultation.”
It’s at the point where if I want to brush my teeth, and some half-cocked indigenous grifter says “we weren’t consulted”, I’ll need to engage 634 dysfunctional indigenous “governments” first. This country is lost.
But – more ammunition for separatists.
Why don’t we ship these 177,000 (just 3.5% of the population) separation idiots to the USA (expenses paid) where they would fit in really nicely. They have not thought this through at all.
This will just push more people to agree to independence. 1% of the population telling 99% what they can do. To the folks saying this is about becoming the 51st state, idiots, everyone of you.
All of the hateful, unintelligible comments from the useful idiots only fuel our resolve to leave this cancerous country of left wing extremism.
People have to realize that our indigenous masters have the ability to override any and all democratic decisions of the citizens!
This violates my rights as set forth by our Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
Wow Leonard actually did something proper for once. Useless Judge…useless military officer.
Looks like the indigenous are good for somethings after all .
Governor smith along with her freedom fighting trump loving seperatists will be fuming that the dream of the 51 state is not working out as planned. It’s ok , eu all can move south to be close to Donald, maybe even go to Iran and help out .
We all knew that just like Quebec will never be able to separate that Alberta can never separate because it would violate Canada’s treaties with the First Nations that are iron clad in Canada’s Constitution.
Waste of tax payers money as well as the news cycle
Wow. Not even to the second paragraph before your headline is Invalid…. Who edits this slop?
Stacked courts…
This won’t stop nothing.
WHY is a judge allowed to STOP WHAT THE PEOPLE WANT??? Democratic and FREE COUNTRY but a judge stopped something because a minority of the people demanded it be stopped – against the majority. What the hell is wrong with our justice system that is not able to do what they MAJORITY of the people want over the minority who have done NOTHING to move this country in WELL OVER 200 YEARS.
You’ve got to remember that the separatists are just simple farmers. These are people of the land. The common clay of the New West. You know… morons.
Decisions like this, and the court case just throw fuel on the fire for seperatists, it might actually convince more people that its a good idea..