Posted on 05/07/2026 5:33:25 PM PDT by SeekAndFind
EDMONTON, Alberta (AP) — Alberta separatists said Monday they have formally submitted almost 302,000 signatures to try to trigger a referendum on the province leaving Canada.
The group needed 178,000 signatures to force the province to consider such a vote.
The question of separation could go on a provincewide ballot as early as October, as Alberta Premier Danielle Smith has said she would move forward if enough names are gathered and verified. Smith has said she personally does not support the oil-rich province leaving Canada.
A “yes” vote would not trigger independence automatically. Negotiations with the federal government would have to take place and Daniel Béland, a political science professor at McGill University in Montreal, said some Indigenous groups who are already using the courts to prevent an independence referendum would use venues including the courts to stop independence from happening.
Mitch Sylvestre, the head of Stay Free Alberta, arrived at the Elections Alberta office in Edmonton on Monday leading a convoy of seven trucks to deliver the names.
“This day is historic in Alberta history,” Sylvestre said. “It’s the first step to the next step — we’ve gotten by Round 3 and now we’re in the Stanley Cup final.”
He said most papers were handled five times to verify the signatures.
More than 300 supporters gathered, waving the provincial flag and chanting “Alberta strong.”
However, the petition could face another hurdle this week as an Edmonton, Alberta, judge is expected to rule on a court challenge launched by a group of Alberta First Nations who say Alberta separation would violate treaty rights.
Smith has accused previous federal Liberal governments of introducing legislation that hamstrings Alberta’s ability to produce and export oil, which she said has cost the province billions of dollars.
(Excerpt) Read more at apnews.com ...
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Daniel Béland, the political science professor at McGill, said a referendum is likely to lose.
“Right now, support for independence in Alberta is rather low. Less than 30% and much lower if we only focus on hard core supporters. And the odds of a victory of the pro-independence camp appear to be low at this stage,” he said.
But where will they go?
Bueller?
Why can’t they be their own country?
And don’t forget that the Canadian Federal gubmint is demanding that they run their referendum by some rules that guarantee that the “leave” voters lose. (I saw something about this the other day, so forgive me if I don’t have it exactly right).
They could, I guess. They’ll then be completely surrounded by Canada except for a few hundred miles bordering Montana. North Montana? This could get messy.
Look around the world. There are many successful countries which are landlocked.
I suspect Sask and the Yukon would join Alberta, maybe BC.
“ But where will they go?”
**************************
Right where they are. But unshackled from overlords ruling over them and draining their money.
“ Look around the world. There are many successful countries which are landlocked.”
***********************************
I don’t know… look at Switzerland. /sarc, of course
Act 4, Scene 2:Henry VI, Part 2
Why cant they be there own country. Maybe let Bc and Yukon join them.
Beautiful country. Wish I had about 20 acres there in middle of no where.
This is great, but from what I hear they don’t have much of chance of getting enough of the country to vote for it come election day.
RE: But where will they go?
Republic of Alberta?
Can’t we offer to swap them for Minnesota
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