Alberta separatists submit signatures for independence referendum

Separatist organisers in Alberta say they have submitted enough signatures to trigger a citizen-led referendum on whether the province should leave Canada, marking the most advanced procedural step yet toward a potential independence vote. However, a court order has temporarily halted verification of the petition, leaving the process unresolved.

The group Stay Free Alberta submitted nearly 302,000 signatures to Elections Alberta on Monday, May 4, well above the roughly 178,000 required to advance a citizen initiative, as per Newsweek report.

Despite this, a judge has paused the verification process while First Nations groups challenge the legality of the referendum effort in court. Provincial officials told Newsweek that no further steps can proceed until both the legal review and an official authenticity check of the signatures are completed.

If the court-ordered pause is lifted and Elections Alberta verifies the submitted signatures, the process could move forward. In that case, the provincial government would be able to set a referendum question and establish a voting date, with a vote potentially taking place as early as October 19, according to the Associated Press.

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith has said she would proceed with a referendum if enough valid signatures are confirmed, although she has made clear she does not personally support independence for the oil-rich province.

“Our government has been clear: we support a strong and sovereign Alberta within a united Canada,” Sam Blackett, press secretary for Smith’s office, told Newsweek.

“This means Alberta remaining a province of Canada while advancing provincial autonomy and fighting to undo Ottawa policies that harm Albertans and intrude on our constitutional rights.”

Blackett added that the premier’s office is awaiting a court decision before Elections Alberta can begin verifying the signatures, and said any further action will depend on that outcome.

By Tamilla Hasanova