In a significant development for Alberta's political landscape, the province's election agency has given its approval to a proposed referendum question on separation from Canada. This move marks a formal step forward for a citizen-led initiative seeking to gauge public support for Alberta's independence.
Approved Question and Next Steps
The question, which was approved on Monday, December 23, 2024, reads: "Do you agree that the province of Alberta should cease to be a part of Canada to become an independent state?" The campaign is spearheaded by the Alberta Prosperity Project (APP).
With the question now approved, the group has until early January to appoint a chief financial officer. Following that appointment, they can begin the crucial task of collecting supporting signatures from Albertans. To succeed and force a referendum, the APP must secure just under 178,000 valid signatures.
Campaign Claims and Legal Pathway
APP Chief Executive Officer Mitch Sylvestre stated in an interview earlier this month that the group is already in campaign mode. He claimed the initiative has already gathered 240,000 pledges for signatures, suggesting a strong base of preliminary support. Sylvestre framed the issue as non-partisan, asserting that every Albertan would benefit from independence.
The path to this approval has been shaped by recent legislative changes. The group first attempted to launch a separation referendum in July 2024, but the initial question was referred to the Court of King's Bench by the chief electoral officer to assess its constitutionality. Justice Colin Feasby ruled that existing initiative laws did not permit a citizen-led referendum on separation.
However, that ruling was effectively bypassed by Bill 14, introduced by the provincial government just a day before the court's decision. The bill removed constitutionality requirements for proposed referendum questions and stripped the chief electoral officer and attorney general of the power to refer initiative proposals to the court, though cabinet retains that authority under other legislation. The APP subsequently redrafted its question to align with the language of the federal Clarity Act.
Context and Counter-Movement
This push for a separation referendum occurs within a complex political context in Alberta. It stands in contrast to another significant petition drive. The Alberta Forever Canada petition gathered an impressive 456,000 signatures in support of a question asking if Alberta should remain within Canada.
The approval from Elections Alberta sets the stage for a potentially historic signature-gathering campaign in early 2025. The outcome will determine whether the question of Alberta's future in Confederation is placed directly before the province's voters in a formal referendum.
