The United Conservative Party (UCP) caucus has pre-empted a committee vote by issuing a press release announcing that the Forever Canadian citizen petition will be put to a fall referendum. The release came before a committee of MLAs voted on a motion to place the question on an Oct. 19 ballot.
UCP Caucus Press Release Prejudges Outcome
The UCP caucus sent out a news release that presupposed the outcome of the vote, stating that the question would be put to a referendum. UCP MLA and committee chairman Brandon Lunty was quoted in the release, saying, “More than 400,000 Albertans signed Mr. Lukaszuk’s Forever Canadian petition. Combined with the reported 301,000 who signed the Alberta independence petition, this means over 700,000 Albertans want — and deserve — the opportunity to have their voices heard in a referendum.”
NDP Raises Point of Privilege
Alberta NDP house leader Christina Gray called a point of privilege minutes after the news release was sent out, arguing that releasing the decision of a committee prior to the decision being made “absolutely breaches” the rights of MLAs to engage in debate. “While we are debating this in this committee, oftentimes it feels like the politics of the UCP is a stage play to exercise their power to do what they want,” Gray said. “It is insulting to the members of the Official Opposition and all Albertans.”
Committee Vote and Recess
After a brief recess, members returned to vote on a motion by Opposition deputy leader Rakhi Pancholi to refer the point of privilege to the Speaker. However, it was defeated in a 3-2 vote, with the UCP holding the majority. To continue the meeting beyond 3:30 p.m., the committee needed unanimous agreement, but both Opposition members voted against, ending the meeting before the motion to put the Forever Canadian petition to a referendum could be voted on.
Motion Introduced by Minister Glubish
Technology and Innovation Minister Nate Glubish, who attended the committee meeting in place of Indigenous Relations Minister Rajan Sawhney, introduced a motion that not only puts the question “Do you agree that Alberta should remain in Canada?” on the fall referendum but also includes an option for Albertans to vote for Alberta to remain in Canada. The committee’s report would be referred to the lieutenant governor in council for the purpose of a referendum as per the Referendum Act.
Thomas Lukaszuk's Testimony
Forever Canadian petition proponent Thomas Lukaszuk spoke before the committee on Wednesday to emphasize his desire for the question to be put to bed in the legislature. The UCP-dominated committee then put forward a motion to place Lukaszuk’s question on the Oct. 19 referendum. Lukaszuk told the committee he intended to give the Alberta government “an off-ramp” to avoid a binding constitutional referendum that could lead to the province’s separation. He reiterated his preference for the question to be asked in the legislature, stating, “That petition is in your hands. As you know, the act doesn’t allow me to have a choice whether I want a referendum or not. My preference is and always has been that this question be asked in the legislature.”
