Independence Advocates Say They’ve Got The Numbers For Referendum Question
Alberta independence advocates collect signatures on March 6 on Dunmore Road near the intersection of Southview Drive. (Photo Alex McCuaig)
Organizers and supporters say they’ve successfully reached the benchmark for putting an independence referendum question to Albertans.
The question, “do you agree that the Province of Alberta should cease to be part of Canada to become an independent state,” has reached the required 177,000 signatures according to social media posts Monday evening by Stay Free Alberta.
The petition effort was launched in December by Stay Free Alberta’s proponent Mitch Sylvestre on the same day as amendments to Alberta’s Referendum Act came into force.
Those amendments, in part, reduced the number of required signatures for a successful petition.
The independence question has until May 2 to submit its petition to Elections Alberta for verification.
Premier Danielle Smith announced earlier this year there will be a provincial referendum held on Oct. 19 on nine questions on immigration policy and constitutional issues but does not currently include a question on Alberta independence.
An order-in-council required to be presented prior to any referendum questions has yet to be filed by the provincial government.
The current referendum petition is the second in the past year.
Former provincial cabinet minister and MLA Thomas Lukaszuk lead the Forever Canadian petition asking the question, “do you agree Alberta should remain in Canada?”
That petition required more than 293,000 signatures, submitting more than 438,568 in its successful effort.
Alberta has had two previous referendum questions poised to constituents under the current provincial legislation in August 2021.
Those questions involved asking Albertas whether equalization payments should be removed from the constitution and whether the province should adopt daylight saving time year round.
The former question was passed while the later was rejected.