Alberta court to decide whether first citizen-led separation question is valid

The first proposed question for a referendum on Alberta’s independence has been submitted to a Court of King’s Bench judge. Gordon McClure, Alberta’s chief electoral officer, confirmed Monday he has forwarded a question to the court under the Citizen Initiative Act. The move comes after a constitutional referendum proposal application from Mitch Sylvestre of the Alberta Prosperity Project was received by Elections Alberta on July 4, said a news release from the Alberta government. The court will determine whether Sylvestre’s proposal conforms with the requirements of the Act, the release added. The court will review this constitutional referendum question: “Do you agree that the Province of Alberta shall become a sovereign country and cease to be a province in Canada?”  Read More: Alberta separatist group’s claim of advancing Indigenous rights has ‘little substance’, says prof A referendum on separation was approved by Premier Danielle Smith for 2026 if 10 per cent of the number of people who voted in the last election sign a petition within 120 days. The Alberta Prosperity Project is pushing for a vote based on several  factors, including widespread unhappiness with the federal revenue-sharing plan. Section 2(4) of Alberta’s Citizen Initiative Act says an initiative petition proposal must not contravene sections one to 35.1 of the Constitution, a late provision that was added to address concerns of First Nations leaders. Chiefs and constitutional scholars have said Alberta separation is not possible as treaties cannot be broken. The release said Sylvestre and Alberta’s minister of justice have been provided written notification of the question being submitted to the court. It will be up to the court to schedule a date for the proceeding. Continue Reading