Organizers of Alberta separatism petition say signature goal has been reached one month ahead of deadline

Key figures in Alberta’s separation movement say a petition calling for a vote on whether the province stays in Canada has reached the required number of signatures.

Stay Free Alberta volunteer Jaeger Gustafson tells CityNews that at a group meeting Monday night, petition organizer Mitch Sylvester said canvassers had collected 177, 732 signatures in support of the effort, the minimum requirement.

“What we are really excited about is our volunteers are bringing people’s voices directly to government.,” Gustafson says. “We want people to stand in their own sovereignty. This is their province, and it’s our future together.”

Elections Alberta has not confirmed that this is the case and likely will be unable to do so until Stay Free Alberta submits the petition in its entirety on the May 2 deadline.

Signature collection for the petition, asking ‘Do you agree that the Province of Alberta should cease to be part of Canada to become an independent state?’ began in January.

Gustafson says the group is continuing its push to collect signatures despite reaching its desired threshold. This is due to an upcoming court challenge that could halt continued canvassing.

He says an injunction against the petition will head to court on April 7.

“So what we’re looking to do now is to have more people sign the petition, we want to have as many people sign the petition as possible, and then bring their voice to government,” Gustafson adds. “This may prevent us from collecting additional signatures, but the voice of Albertans will be heard then on Oct. 19, regardless of the outcome.”

Referendum on separation unconfirmed

A referendum on several questions is scheduled for Oct. 19 in Alberta. However, the success of a citizen-led petition doesn’t guarantee the question will make it on the ballot.

Premier Danielle Smith has previously said a vote on separation would likely take place during the fall referendum. She herself has expressed a desire for “an independent Alberta within a united Canada.”

Mount Royal University political science professor Lori Williams believes there will be increased pressure on Smith to take a more concrete stance once the required signatures are verified.

“The foot in both camps stance that she’s taken so far…that may not be something she can sustain in the long-term,” says Williams. “I think pressure is going to increase for her to take a stand and campaign for her position as the referendum date approaches.”

Gustafson says there’s been no comment to Stay Free Alberta from the United Conservative Party but that the group is “always looking to collaborate with government.”

Polling on the issue from several firms has shown varied support for Alberta independence. Data released last month from Mainstream Research reported 30 per cent of Albertans support the citizen-led petition, while 58 per cent are against it.

A petition on the opposite side of the issue, Forever Canadian led by Thomas Lukaszuk, successfully gathered its required number of signatures in December. Nearly 405,000 of the 439,000 were verified by Elections Alberta, well above the required 294,000.

Lukaszuk’s effort began before the province changed citizen-led petitions to lower the signature threshold.