Leaders behind an Alberta separatist petition say they’ve reached over 177,732 signatures, meeting the threshold of 10 percent of the total votes cast in the last provincial election, to trigger a provincial referendum on independence.
The petition, which began collecting signatures on January 3, 2024, has until May 2, 2024, to finalize its count. The group aims to ask Albertans if they agree that Alberta should cease to be part of Canada and become an independent state.
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 underscores the government’s position on citizen-led initiatives.
As the petition progresses, Elections Alberta will verify the count of signatures after they are submitted. The province is also planning to hold a referendum on several questions on October 19, 2024, which may include this independence question.
However, opposition NDP Leader Naheed Nenshi has criticized the government for delaying a petition aimed at keeping Alberta in Canada, stating, “The half a million Albertans who signed the ‘Forever Canadian’ petition are still waiting for their day in the legislature.”
Nenshi further remarked, “This isn’t democracy. This is a premier grasping for power,” highlighting the contentious political atmosphere surrounding the referendum.
Details remain unconfirmed regarding whether the independence question will be added to the ballot on October 19, 2024, if the current petition is successful. Additionally, the exact wording of the referendum question may change before it is presented to voters.
As the situation develops, observers are closely monitoring the implications of this referendum for Alberta’s political landscape and its relationship with the rest of Canada.
