Alberta separatists have achieved over 177,000 signatures for their referendum, and they are pleased with the timing of this milestone. Stay Free Alberta announced their success a week before facing a legal challenge from a First Nation group in Edmonton on April 7, which argues that the independence bid could breach Indigenous treaties.
Despite having collected enough signatures, an injunction from Sturgeon Lake Cree Nation could halt the Elections Alberta process for validating the petition. Separatist leader Mitch Sylvestre is considering a backup plan to appeal directly to Premier Danielle Smith to include the referendum on the October ballot, regardless of the court’s decision.
Sylvestre believes that having the required number of petition signatures is crucial to safeguarding his group legally. He mentioned the possibility of presenting the signatures directly to the government for review, bypassing the standard procedure with Elections Alberta.
While the Citizen Initiative Act mandates submitting a successful petition to Elections Alberta, Sylvestre envisions a scenario where his initiative circumvents this requirement. A referendum can be placed on the ballot either through a successful citizen petition or by the government’s order under the Referendum Act, which Smith has utilized for other ballot questions this fall.
Chief Sheldon Sunshine of Sturgeon Lake Cree Nation expressed concerns that Smith might find a way to proceed with the referendum despite any legal setbacks faced by the separatists. The UCP government has previously amended laws to facilitate successful petition drives, reducing the signature threshold required for a constitutional referendum.
While Smith has affirmed her support for a united Canada with more provincial autonomy, she has shown leniency towards the separatist movement driven by a section of her party’s base. The prospect of an independence referendum being approved remains uncertain due to ongoing legal challenges and the potential influence of court decisions.
The outcome of the upcoming legal proceedings will determine the fate of the separatist petition, with Chief Sunshine vowing to protect Indigenous rights. Sylvestre remains optimistic about continuing the political battle regardless of the obstacles ahead, as the future of the referendum hangs in the balance.