Alberta separatists are celebrating their achievement of surpassing the required 177,000 signatures to push their referendum onto the ballots. Stay Free Alberta announced this milestone a week ahead of a court hearing in Edmonton, where a First Nation is seeking an injunction against the citizen’s initiative on April 7, citing concerns that the independence bid could breach Indigenous treaties.
The separatist leader, Mitch Sylvestre, is contemplating a backup plan in case the court injunction halts the Elections Alberta process. He is considering appealing directly to Premier Danielle Smith to include the referendum on the October ballot, regardless of the court ruling.
Sylvestre emphasized the importance of obtaining the necessary petition signatures to safeguard his group legally, suggesting that they may explore alternative avenues to submit the signatures for approval instead of following the standard process outlined in the Citizen Initiative Act.
The referendum could potentially be included on the ballot through the government’s order under the Referendum Act, a process Smith has utilized for other ballot questions this fall. Despite the legal complexities and challenges faced by the separatist movement, they remain determined to pursue their goal of independence with the support of a segment of UCP voters.
The ongoing legal battles and political maneuvering surrounding the referendum highlight the complex dynamics at play as Alberta navigates discussions around separatism and sovereignty. The outcome of the injunction hearing and subsequent legal challenges will significantly impact the future trajectory of the separatist movement in the province.