Alberta separatists say they have formally submitted almost 302,000 signatures to try to trigger a referendum on the province leaving Canada.
The group needed 178,000 signatures to force the province to consider such a vote.
The question of separation could go on a provincewide ballot as early as October, as Premier Danielle Smith has said she would move forward if enough names are gathered and verified.
Mitch Sylvestre, the head of Stay Free Alberta, arrived at the Elections Alberta office in Edmonton on Monday, leading a convoy of seven trucks to deliver the paperwork.
More than 300 supporters gathered, waving the provincial flag and chanting, “Alberta strong.”
“You guys brought us here. Without you guys, none of this would happen,” Sylvestre told the cheering crowd.
Get daily National news
“You stood in the cold, you got abused and people yelled at you.”
He said he would be sending the premier a letter and an affidavit swearing that more than 7,000 canvassers collected 301,450 signatures.
“This day is historic in Alberta history,” Sylvestre said.
“It’s the first step to the next step — we’ve gotten by Round 3 and now we’re in the Stanley Cup final.”
However, the petition could face another hurdle this week.
An Edmonton judge is expected to rule on a court challenge launched by a group of Alberta First Nations that say separation would violate treaty rights.
— More to come…
A province cannot unilaterally separate. Even after a “Yes” vote, Alberta would not instantly become a country. That would take years of negotiations with Canada, Indigenous nations, and international bodies. Alberta would have to give up far more than most separatist want to admit. Separation would trigger massive legal, economic, territorial, and social losses, many of which Alberta cannot avoid because they are embedded in Canada’s constitutional framework. Then there is the oil and gas industry. Guaranteed pipeline rights through B.C. or Saskatchewan and Federal diplomatic support would need to negotiate new pipeline treaties. All in all, A realistic negotiation timeline for Alberta separation is long, messy, and far slower than most people imagine. Even in the best case, it would take more than 15 years before anything resembling independence could take effect, and that’s assuming negotiations don’t collapse.Best look at the whole picture before assuming the grass is or will be greener on the other side of the fence.
Ron (comment way below) nailed it; if you want a better deal from Ottawa, you’re a traitor, racist, magamoron, etc. etc.
It only shows how these Liberal bootlickers and asskissers think, or rather do not think. It’s all reactionary name- calling, with zero solutions offered and zero understanding of why Alberta wants out. And someone please tell FNs that a referendum doesn’t violate the treaties, nobody is kicking them out but they’re probably scared that under a new management they would actually be required to get a job and no more handouts.
Pack up your bags and leave. To separatist not all Alberta. Just like quebec separatist which I’m sure people in Alberta were saying during that referendum.
Mexico is finishing up a trade deal with the USA. Canada is refusing to start on a deal because Canada wants to keep Quebec voters by maintaining supply management of the dairy industry. Once CUSMA comes to an end and Canada’s economy tanks, that will sway a lot of Albertan’s to independence.
Alberta Separatists got enough to trigger a referendum to Independance and there’s nothing that the WEAK leftist legacy Media can say, so Whine and Cry some more !
To Proud Canadian – Forever Canada let anything sign where the petition to ask a question was restricted to Alberta residents.
All the rednecks and hillbillies need to be deported down south to join their LOVING and kissing cousins to produce some good looking offspring. Ain’t MAGA great!
Losers.
so I would say forever Canada won.
We had four hundred and fifty thousand signatures in 3 months,
Separatists only had three hundred thousand signatures in four months.
I would say forever Canada won, should not need referandum
I think they cheated. Why did they have that confidential electoral information? All those names should be thoroughly checked.
Colonial individuals (separatists) who are all immigrants and believe they lie and cheat. Their parents and ancestors came to Canada as immigrants.
1. it does not violate any treaty rights. A tenant’s agreement does not prevent the apartment from changing hands. It just needs to be honoured by the new landlord. – Quebec proved that already.
2. What about the petition to keep Alberta in Canada – which got more signatures, without being yelled at, threatened, or even trying…
I notice the platform is ‘keep it free’, or as it presently is. Very confusing to some people.
@anonymous…possibly votes but also to fill small/ big colleges and create housing demand? He did apologize and slammed the gates shut. Which is great and had to be done…now we’re trying to reverse.
@bc resident
Cool. I don’t like the liberals, didn’t vote for them but what can you do. I think they should chop up the ontario voting structure and maybe we would get more changes not influenced by immigration. Not racist but trudeau brought in 400000 per year for a reason, to get votes later on and/or from people already here as Imagrates.
Would have been a lot more signatures if the restrictions weren’t so stringent on addresses. In rural areas, a lot of folks showed up to sign, but only had PO Box #’s as addresses, not physical addresses. And, as far as this court case with the Treaty Chiefs, maybe they should have checked with their band members, because a lot of them signed the petition, and signed up as canvasser, so the Chiefs are not in this for their bands at all.
I’m pretty sure that Trump has plenty of room to share with all of the separatists!
He needs them out on his Golf Course picking up balls without the cage.
If not his Insurrectionists will!
Go ahead, MOVE!
@ anonymous…I get it…just trying to lighten the mood. Lol. I have heard rumors though that after the loss THIS year…some of the Oilers might try to join the liberal party ?!
Becoming King Michael: From Canadian Alienation To Unity by Michael T.R. Schrigly is a 2024 memoir detailing a personal journey through addiction, despair, and recovery in Western Canada. The 117-page book follows the author’s struggle with mental illness, his life in the oil patch, and his ultimate path to self-discovery, redemption, and healing. Don’t see separation in this.
Missed a lot of us who would have signed the petition to separate.
I want to become King. My book “Becoming King Michael: from alienation to unity.” Is available at Amazon
@bc resident
They made the playoffs and lost. Last 2 years made it to the “Stanley cup final” and lost. Someone please explain it to him/her the reality and the meaning.
Is these separation noises that got Trump thinking Canada is easy pickings for 51st state. Which is not going to happen. Better these rightnut traitors join Trump country in Alabama. I don’t think he has many backers in the US, even in Florida.
Ali, next time just say you have 0 understanding of the law and Canada’s relationship with the crown. You don’t need to write a whole paragraph out for that sweetie 🥰
Well, clearly the MAGAMORONS are not all in the U.S…
They claimed to have 178,000 signatures 2 weeks ago. They managed to get over 122k signatures in that time? Lol I doubt it.
Chances are they never got close to the 178k and will just lie saying the government is silencing them.
@ anonymous…uhmmm…I don’t know how to break it to you…( can somebody tell him?! ) The Oilers didnt make the playoffs…… I don’t think they had enough signatures or something?! Lol. But if you still want to watch some hockey?…. you can still cheer for MONTREAL !!!
UNDRIP. Sorry, consultation doesn’t mean veto. Sorry, the crown is not inviolate, it’s been transferred from the Monarch to the Government of Canada before. It can also be transferred from Canada to a republic of AB. UNDRIP lawfare only irritates democratic thinking Canadians. It won’t work to stop self determination.
THE WEST? Quit lumping us in with that separation nonsense. You guys and half of saskatchewan are on your own.! We’re are and always have been fine on our own. Everything was peachy till all you guys moved here.
I see the usual ‘you are all deplorables’ commenters are out there. They never, ever, off an answer of why AB is better off in Confederation. Ever wonder why that is? Apparently wanting democracy makes you racist. Apparently asking for a better deal under Confederation makes you a traitor. Truly amazing how convoluted logic leads them to this conclusion. But i know this: they’re not interested in rational debate
The west can’t separate quick enough!
We’re done with these liberals destroying the country with their communist ways
Bunch of low iq racist POS.
“This day is historic in Alberta history,” Sylvestre said.
“It’s the first step to the next step — we’ve gotten by Round 3 and now we’re in the Stanley Cup final.”. Just like the Oilers!
You know what, civil war and destroy all rednecks permanently.
Deep iron trump, I agree. We should start learning Spanish. Trumps big missiles are great!
The border is three hours south.
Can’t wait to join puerto ricans!
How many of these signatures are forged from the voter roll that was published?
To the clowns down below here that are pouting for separatists to leave Canada. Do you not realize how stupid you look typing that. hmmm.. probably not. But anyway thank you for your support and with your help we will be pulling out of Canada as soon as Marcus Carnage stops another project in the Provence. oh, we will be taking the petroleum, beef industry, and probably Saskatchewan also. Cheers
If u dont want to be part of canada then leave
Never Never Never going to happen, you don’t like it here, LEAVE!
Wexit Exit 2026. How did that work out last time?Losers lose, get over it. What a waste of taxpayers money and time.
Dee Ironside has zero clue how treaties work and it shows
i was there. it was awsome
By blatantly stealing people’s personal information from a database hack.
Referendumb
While this won’t result in independence, this is our chance to show the Federal Government we are serious about how Alberta has been treated the last 100 years. Quebec has threatened the Federal Government with separation for years and have received very good deals with Ottawa.
Global is clearly anti-Canada and supports these absolute fools.
These jokers couldn’t even get 200,000, even with cheating.
1939 Germany…. That’s what they want. The lot of them need to be sent south of the border.
Usa! Usa! Usa! Usa!
Anonymous, I can’t disagree with you about Trudeau and Carney
Al Browne, nope but we sure are tired of living in Trudeau’s Canada. Carney may be a different face, but it’s the same sad story.
Do these Trump lovers wanna be the 51st state?
Why no mention of the Stay in Canada referendum, which got at least twice as many signatures, in a very short period of time, without any effort…
Global is backing Smith and her dreams of a Queendom.
Biggest waste of time in the history of our country. Alberta doesn’t belong to you no matter what you and your gang of white trash warriors think. The end
What they do on their third world boundary defined reservations is their business. The rest of Albertans may be leaving.
I see constantly evolving ‘Treaty Rights’ trying to supplant overall Canadian Rights.
Besides the treaty rights are between the Fedral government and the tribes. Since we are separating from this oppressive government, the treaty rights are pretty much irrelevant.