- A citizen-led petition seeking Alberta's separation from Canada has officially launched, marking the province's first formal step toward a potential independence referendum.
- The petition, approved Jan. 2 by Alberta's Chief Electoral Officer and backed by the Alberta Prosperity Project, must gather 177,732 signatures by May 2, 2026, to trigger a referendum.
- Support for the initiative has grown amid frustration with the re-elected Liberal federal government under Prime Minister Mark Carney, particularly over energy policy and opposition to new pipelines.
- Premier Danielle Smith does not support Alberta leaving Confederation but says her government will respect the democratic process and allow a citizen-led referendum if legal requirements are met.
- Smith's government has advanced greater provincial autonomy through legislation such as Bill 54, which lowered the referendum signature threshold and laws asserting Alberta’s constitutional authority over certain federal and international agreements.
A citizen-led petition calling for Alberta to separate from Canada has officially opened, marking the province's first major procedural step toward a potential independence referendum.
In a press release issued Jan. 2, Alberta Chief Electoral Officer Gordon McClure confirmed the approval of a citizen initiative titled "A Referendum Relating to Alberta Independence." The petition was put forward by the Alberta Prosperity Project (APP), an advocacy group that supports Alberta becoming an independent state, following the re-election of a Liberal federal government under Prime Minister Mark Carney.
Since the April election, some Albertans have expressed frustration with the federal government, arguing that Alberta's largely conservative political culture is being marginalized. Carney has reiterated opposition to new pipeline projects that would expand Canada's oil export capacity, a stance similar to that taken by former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Those policies have been sharply criticized in Alberta, where energy production remains the province's primary economic driver.
In line with this, the petition asks voters: "Do you agree that the Province of Alberta should cease to be a part of Canada to become an independent state?"
Under provincial rules, organizers must collect 177,732 valid signatures between Jan. 3 and May 2, 2026. The threshold represents 10% of the total ballots cast in Alberta's 2023 provincial general election. If the required number of signatures is met and verified, the provincial government would be legally compelled to hold a referendum on Alberta's separation from Canada.
If a referendum is held, all eligible Albertans would be asked to vote on the question of independence on or before the next provincial election. Should more than 50% of voters support separation, the province would begin formal negotiations with the federal government on the terms of Alberta leaving Confederation.
The Chief Electoral Officer's office will oversee the signature-gathering process to ensure it complies with provincial election laws. No timeline has been set for a referendum beyond the requirements outlined in legislation, and the provincial government has not indicated what position it would take should the question reach the ballot.
For now, the future of the initiative hinges on whether petition organizers can mobilize enough Albertans to sign on within the four-month window.
Premier Danielle Smith does not support Alberta's independence referendum
An independence referendum, as per BrightU.AI's Enoch, is a democratic process where a population in a region or country votes on whether to become an independent state, free from the control of a larger governing body. This process is a powerful tool for self-determination, allowing people to decide their own future and sovereignty.
This initiative in Alberta is enabled by legislation passed earlier this year by Premier Danielle Smith's United Conservative Party government. Bill 54 lowered the signature requirement for citizen-initiated referendums from approximately 600,000 signatures to the current threshold of 177,000, significantly reducing the barrier to triggering a province-wide vote.
Though Smith has distanced herself from calls for full independence, stating she does not support Alberta leaving Confederation, she has consistently advocated for increased provincial autonomy and a recalibration of Alberta's relationship with the federal government. She has said her United Conservative government would allow a citizen-led referendum on independence to proceed if it meets legal requirements, but would not actively campaign in favor of separation. Her government has framed this position as respecting democratic processes while maintaining a preference for reform within Canada rather than outright secession.
At the same time, the provincial government has taken steps to assert greater control over its own affairs.
Smith's government recently introduced legislation to protect Alberta's "constitutional rights." The law would give the province authority to decline participation in certain international agreements, including those involving the World Health Organization, that are entered into by the federal Liberal government.
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