'Independent state?' Proposed referendum question approved on Alberta separation
Story by Jack Farrell
EDMONTON — Alberta's election agency announced Monday it has approved a proposed referendum question on the province separating from Canada.
The question seeks a yes or no answer to: "Do you agree that the province of Alberta should cease to be a part of Canada to become an independent state?"
Elections Alberta said the proponents — the Alberta Prosperity Project and its chief executive officer, Mitch Sylvestre — have until early January to appoint a financial officer for its petition campaign, after which signature collection can begin.
TINY GROUP OF SEPERATISTS WHO LOVE USA MORE THAN CANADA
People gather in support of Alberta becoming a 51st state during a rally at the legislature in Edmonton, on Saturday, May 3, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson© The Canadian Press JUST MOVE SOUTH
Sylvestre, a constituency association president for Premier Danielle Smith's United Conservative Party, has four months to collect just under 178,000 signatures. If he does so, the question would be put to Albertans in a referendum.
The Alberta Prosperity Project said on social media Monday that the approval is a "huge victory" for the province.
"This is the breakthrough we've been fighting for," it said.
Sylvestre, in an interview, said he thought Alberta needs to go it alone because of Ottawa's restrictions on oil production and dim prospects for federal electoral change.
"This last election when the Liberals won after 10 years of absolute brutal government, as far as I was concerned, I believe that there's absolutely no way that we'll ever win another election in Alberta," he said.
"It's up to us to decide what to do about that."
Sylvestre said the group already has 2,000 people signed up internally to collect signatures, and more than 240,000 people who have previously pledged their willingness to sign.
"This is very non-partisan as far as I'm concerned," he said.
"Every Albertan will benefit from this, and it'll give Alberta children and my grandchildren and my kids a much brighter future as far as I'm concerned, or I wouldn't be doing it.
The group's approved question is similar to one it had previously submitted: “Do you agree that the province of Alberta shall become a sovereign country and cease to be a province in Canada?”
That question was held up in court for a review of its constitutionality.
The delay prompted Smith's government to change the rules for citizen-initiated referendums earlier this month.
The changes rendered the court review moot, as it allowed Sylvestre to reapply at no charge while also preventing Alberta's chief electoral officer from rejecting referendum proposals should they be unconstitutional or not factually accurate.
Justice Colin Feasby, who issued his decision on the original question despite the government vetoing the result, deemed the proposal to be unconstitutional, but only under the previous rules.
Feasby, in his decision, wrote that Alberta separating from Canada would violate certain Charter and treaty rights, as there are no guarantees Albertans would keep their right to vote federally or maintain mobility rights if the province were to become its own nation.
He also noted that those rights would need to be accounted for in any negotiation undertaken to amend the Constitution, something that would be required should Alberta actually look to quit confederation.
"Alberta chose not to give citizens the power to propose to take away Charter and Treaty rights through the citizen initiative process," Feasby wrote.
But he added: "Alberta seems to regret this decision now."
Justice Minister Mickey Amery's press secretary, Heather Jenkins, said in an email that it's a democratic right for people to participate in citizen initiated referendums and bring forward questions they deem important.
"If those seeking independence believe that they have the support for it, this is their chance to prove it," she said.
Sylvestre said he was excited at the prospect that Albertans could soon decide their own fate.
"In spite of the fact that this has been a roller-coaster up and down ride, I think it's going to be well worth it no matter what happens," he said.
"The people are going to be able to decide based on the information that they get what they want to do with their future, and I think this is what democracy should be all about."
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 22, 2025.
— With files from Dayne Patterson in Calgary.
Jack Farrell, The Canadian Press
Story by Jack Farrell
EDMONTON — Alberta's election agency announced Monday it has approved a proposed referendum question on the province separating from Canada.
The question seeks a yes or no answer to: "Do you agree that the province of Alberta should cease to be a part of Canada to become an independent state?"
Elections Alberta said the proponents — the Alberta Prosperity Project and its chief executive officer, Mitch Sylvestre — have until early January to appoint a financial officer for its petition campaign, after which signature collection can begin.
TINY GROUP OF SEPERATISTS WHO LOVE USA MORE THAN CANADA
People gather in support of Alberta becoming a 51st state during a rally at the legislature in Edmonton, on Saturday, May 3, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson© The Canadian Press JUST MOVE SOUTH
Sylvestre, a constituency association president for Premier Danielle Smith's United Conservative Party, has four months to collect just under 178,000 signatures. If he does so, the question would be put to Albertans in a referendum.
The Alberta Prosperity Project said on social media Monday that the approval is a "huge victory" for the province.
"This is the breakthrough we've been fighting for," it said.
Sylvestre, in an interview, said he thought Alberta needs to go it alone because of Ottawa's restrictions on oil production and dim prospects for federal electoral change.
"This last election when the Liberals won after 10 years of absolute brutal government, as far as I was concerned, I believe that there's absolutely no way that we'll ever win another election in Alberta," he said.
"It's up to us to decide what to do about that."
Sylvestre said the group already has 2,000 people signed up internally to collect signatures, and more than 240,000 people who have previously pledged their willingness to sign.
"This is very non-partisan as far as I'm concerned," he said.
"Every Albertan will benefit from this, and it'll give Alberta children and my grandchildren and my kids a much brighter future as far as I'm concerned, or I wouldn't be doing it.
The group's approved question is similar to one it had previously submitted: “Do you agree that the province of Alberta shall become a sovereign country and cease to be a province in Canada?”
That question was held up in court for a review of its constitutionality.
The delay prompted Smith's government to change the rules for citizen-initiated referendums earlier this month.
The changes rendered the court review moot, as it allowed Sylvestre to reapply at no charge while also preventing Alberta's chief electoral officer from rejecting referendum proposals should they be unconstitutional or not factually accurate.
Justice Colin Feasby, who issued his decision on the original question despite the government vetoing the result, deemed the proposal to be unconstitutional, but only under the previous rules.
Feasby, in his decision, wrote that Alberta separating from Canada would violate certain Charter and treaty rights, as there are no guarantees Albertans would keep their right to vote federally or maintain mobility rights if the province were to become its own nation.
He also noted that those rights would need to be accounted for in any negotiation undertaken to amend the Constitution, something that would be required should Alberta actually look to quit confederation.
"Alberta chose not to give citizens the power to propose to take away Charter and Treaty rights through the citizen initiative process," Feasby wrote.
But he added: "Alberta seems to regret this decision now."
Justice Minister Mickey Amery's press secretary, Heather Jenkins, said in an email that it's a democratic right for people to participate in citizen initiated referendums and bring forward questions they deem important.
"If those seeking independence believe that they have the support for it, this is their chance to prove it," she said.
Sylvestre said he was excited at the prospect that Albertans could soon decide their own fate.
"In spite of the fact that this has been a roller-coaster up and down ride, I think it's going to be well worth it no matter what happens," he said.
"The people are going to be able to decide based on the information that they get what they want to do with their future, and I think this is what democracy should be all about."
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 22, 2025.
— With files from Dayne Patterson in Calgary.
Jack Farrell, The Canadian Press
Alberta Next Panel recommends ditching RCMP, referendum to quit CPP
Story by Lisa Johnson
Premier Danielle Smith speaks to the media at the Legislature in Edmonton, on Wednesday, Dec. 10, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Amber Bracken© The Canadian Press
EDMONTON — Alberta Premier Danielle Smith’s hand-picked panel re-examining the province's relationship with Ottawa says it’s time to ditch the RCMP and hold a provincewide referendum on quitting the Canada Pension Plan.
The Alberta Next panel, in a report with findings and recommendations, says creating a provincial pension plan was the most hotly debated topic among citizens and one that needs to proceed to a vote.
“Replacing the CPP with an (Alberta plan) is the most financially meaningful initiative Albertans have the right to pursue on our own to enhance our sovereignty and financial independence within a united Canada,” says the report from the panel, which was headed up by Smith.
But the panel stresses such a vote should only be held after residents receive more information on the pros and cons of the province going it alone.
And it says a vote would be contingent on an Alberta pension plan matching or improving the payouts and premiums of the federal system.
The report was issued Friday afternoon without a news conference, and Smith was not made available for an interview.
Her office, asked if she would support a CPP referendum, pointed to Smith's earlier comments that it would be tight to get the issue on any ballot for next fall.
The next general election is set for October 2027.
The report comes after months of public town halls across the province and survey feedback.
It also recommends continuing work to create an Alberta police force to replace the RCMP when the latest contract with the national force ends in 2032.
Smith’s government has long questioned whether the province is getting value for money on the Mountie contract, while saying a provincial force can bolster accountability.
The panel acknowledged a provincial force was also a polarizing topic in debates but said it heard concerns about police staffing levels, particularly in smaller communities, with hundreds of contracted policing positions going unfilled.
“Some, like Cypress County, have been paying the RCMP with zero officers provided,” says the report.
The panel also called for referendums on more provincial control over immigration and on specific constitutional questions, such as abolishing the "unelected Senate."
It suggested doing a cost-benefit analysis of Alberta running its own tax system.
And it urged Alberta to push harder for equalization reform, saying that on balance Albertans are OK with subsidizing smaller provinces but “the vast majority strongly oppose their federal tax dollars subsidizing provinces with the fiscal and economic strength to deliver such services on their own.”
Opposition NDP Leader Naheed Nenshi labelled the Alberta Next project a stage-managed distraction from government failures on health care and education.
He said Smith didn't campaign on any of the issues prioritized in the report, which he noted was released on the Friday before Christmas.
"The government has spent millions of taxpayer dollars on a sham consultation, where they actively silenced anyone who dared to disagree with them,” Nenshi said in an interview.
“(They) are now pretending that that was the voice of Albertans to justify spending millions of dollars more on referenda on things that Albertans don't want.
Nenshi said the CPP issue is a stalking horse to create a government controlled piggy bank.
“They want to create a large asset fund that is under the control of the government to invest in things the government wants to invest in," he said.
Debate in Alberta over whether to quit the more than $777-billion CPP has been ebbing and flowing for more than two years under Smith. The premier has linked a standalone plan to long-standing concerns that Albertans are paying more into Confederation than they deservedly get back.
In 2023, her government issued a report estimating Alberta is entitled to more than half the money in the national nest egg should it go its own way.
That number was hotly contested. Absent a clear exit figure, Smith put formal consultations on hold and the issue faded into the background.
As late as this spring, Smith said no firm bottom line number coupled with a lack of public “appetite” for leaving the CPP precluded any referendum for the time being.
However, the panel said a straw vote of people at its town halls supported the idea, as did a slim majority of those in its poll. But it noted a “clear majority” of those who sent online feedback opposed leaving the CPP.
The panel said it heard concerns about what would happen if a provincial fund was mismanaged or if Alberta’s strong economic advantage didn't continue, not to mention questions about portability.
The panel said all those details – contribution rates, management structure, benefits and more — need to spelled out for Albertans ahead of any referendum.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 19, 2025.
Lisa Johnson, The Canadian Press
Story by Lisa Johnson
Premier Danielle Smith speaks to the media at the Legislature in Edmonton, on Wednesday, Dec. 10, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Amber Bracken© The Canadian Press
EDMONTON — Alberta Premier Danielle Smith’s hand-picked panel re-examining the province's relationship with Ottawa says it’s time to ditch the RCMP and hold a provincewide referendum on quitting the Canada Pension Plan.
The Alberta Next panel, in a report with findings and recommendations, says creating a provincial pension plan was the most hotly debated topic among citizens and one that needs to proceed to a vote.
“Replacing the CPP with an (Alberta plan) is the most financially meaningful initiative Albertans have the right to pursue on our own to enhance our sovereignty and financial independence within a united Canada,” says the report from the panel, which was headed up by Smith.
But the panel stresses such a vote should only be held after residents receive more information on the pros and cons of the province going it alone.
And it says a vote would be contingent on an Alberta pension plan matching or improving the payouts and premiums of the federal system.
The report was issued Friday afternoon without a news conference, and Smith was not made available for an interview.
Her office, asked if she would support a CPP referendum, pointed to Smith's earlier comments that it would be tight to get the issue on any ballot for next fall.
The next general election is set for October 2027.
Related video: RCMP official says police force's future in Alberta uncertain (CBC)
The report comes after months of public town halls across the province and survey feedback.
It also recommends continuing work to create an Alberta police force to replace the RCMP when the latest contract with the national force ends in 2032.
Smith’s government has long questioned whether the province is getting value for money on the Mountie contract, while saying a provincial force can bolster accountability.
The panel acknowledged a provincial force was also a polarizing topic in debates but said it heard concerns about police staffing levels, particularly in smaller communities, with hundreds of contracted policing positions going unfilled.
“Some, like Cypress County, have been paying the RCMP with zero officers provided,” says the report.
The panel also called for referendums on more provincial control over immigration and on specific constitutional questions, such as abolishing the "unelected Senate."
It suggested doing a cost-benefit analysis of Alberta running its own tax system.
And it urged Alberta to push harder for equalization reform, saying that on balance Albertans are OK with subsidizing smaller provinces but “the vast majority strongly oppose their federal tax dollars subsidizing provinces with the fiscal and economic strength to deliver such services on their own.”
Opposition NDP Leader Naheed Nenshi labelled the Alberta Next project a stage-managed distraction from government failures on health care and education.
He said Smith didn't campaign on any of the issues prioritized in the report, which he noted was released on the Friday before Christmas.
"The government has spent millions of taxpayer dollars on a sham consultation, where they actively silenced anyone who dared to disagree with them,” Nenshi said in an interview.
“(They) are now pretending that that was the voice of Albertans to justify spending millions of dollars more on referenda on things that Albertans don't want.
Nenshi said the CPP issue is a stalking horse to create a government controlled piggy bank.
“They want to create a large asset fund that is under the control of the government to invest in things the government wants to invest in," he said.
Debate in Alberta over whether to quit the more than $777-billion CPP has been ebbing and flowing for more than two years under Smith. The premier has linked a standalone plan to long-standing concerns that Albertans are paying more into Confederation than they deservedly get back.
In 2023, her government issued a report estimating Alberta is entitled to more than half the money in the national nest egg should it go its own way.
That number was hotly contested. Absent a clear exit figure, Smith put formal consultations on hold and the issue faded into the background.
As late as this spring, Smith said no firm bottom line number coupled with a lack of public “appetite” for leaving the CPP precluded any referendum for the time being.
However, the panel said a straw vote of people at its town halls supported the idea, as did a slim majority of those in its poll. But it noted a “clear majority” of those who sent online feedback opposed leaving the CPP.
The panel said it heard concerns about what would happen if a provincial fund was mismanaged or if Alberta’s strong economic advantage didn't continue, not to mention questions about portability.
The panel said all those details – contribution rates, management structure, benefits and more — need to spelled out for Albertans ahead of any referendum.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 19, 2025.
Lisa Johnson, The Canadian Press
Alberta increases referendum petition fees to $25,000 — a 5,000 per cent hike
Story by Lisa Johnson
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith and Minister of Justice Mickey Amery announce proposed changes to several pieces of democratic process legislation, in Edmonton on Tuesday April 29, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson© The Canadian Press
EDMONTON — Alberta Premier Danielle Smith's government is hiking the cost to apply for a citizen-initiated referendum by 5,000 per cent, saying it's about making sure applicants are serious.
It’s the latest in a series of rule changes that one petitioner – country singer Corb Lund – characterizes as exhausting.
A cabinet order released late Wednesday afternoon upped the fee to $25,000 from $500.
Heather Jenkins, press secretary to Justice Minister Mickey Amery, says the cost will be refundable if the applicant meets the required threshold of signatures and completes reporting requirements.
"Citizen initiative petitions are costly,” Jenkins said Thursday in a statement.
“That is why a higher application fee was chosen, to discourage frivolous applications and protect Alberta taxpayers.”
The move comes despite previous efforts by Smith's United Conservative Party government to make it easier for citizens to apply for a policy initiative or a constitutional referendum, including efforts to put Alberta separation on the ballot.
Lund may not have to pay the higher fee.
Elections Alberta confirmed Thursday his prior application to launch a referendum to stop new coal mining in Alberta's Rockies will have a grace period
The new fee would be waived if Lund files his paperwork by Jan. 11.
Lund, in an interview, said it’s disturbing to see Smith’s government make sudden rule changes for what he views as "random, self-serving reasons.”
"The chaos and confusion and exhaustion is very similar to the same confusion, chaos and exhaustion that we've seen from the government on how they've been handling the coal situation for the last six years," Lund said.
"It just keeps changing."
He said no matter what else might shift, he won't be deterred from completing a process that's already been cancelled by recent election law changes, forcing him to start again.
"We'll fill out as many forms as they make us fill out if it means we can keep the coal mines out of the headwaters of the rivers that provide our drinking water."
Premier Smith has long championed the merits of direct democracy.
In late November, when asked about Lund's petition, she said, "I support citizen-initiated referenda. I think it's really important that people have their say. The rules are out there, and I will watch with great interest.”
Earlier this year, Smith's government significantly lowered the thresholds for citizens to apply for a referendum, including the number of signatures required.
Earlier this month, her government passed a new law to clear further legal hurdles faced by those aiming to hold a separation referendum.
A pro-Confederation petition organized by former Alberta deputy premier Thomas Lukaszuk is not affected. Elections Alberta has already certified that petition as having the required signatures. Lukaszuk seeks to spike separatist sentiment by forcing a decision to reaffirm Alberta staying in Canada.
Another application has already received the green light to proceed. It seeks to gather signatures to ask whether Alberta should end spending public money on independent schools.
Alberta NDP justice critic Irfan Sabir says the fee increase shows the UCP government doesn't have any respect for the democratic process.
"This change is clearly meant to stifle democratic action,” Sabir said in a statement.
Chief electoral officer Gordon McClure told a legislative committee earlier this month it cost $340,000 to verify Lukaszuk’s petition and that the cost to prepare for a subsequent provincewide referendum would be more than $3 million.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 18, 2025.
Lisa Johnson, The Canadian Press
Story by Lisa Johnson
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith and Minister of Justice Mickey Amery announce proposed changes to several pieces of democratic process legislation, in Edmonton on Tuesday April 29, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson© The Canadian Press
EDMONTON — Alberta Premier Danielle Smith's government is hiking the cost to apply for a citizen-initiated referendum by 5,000 per cent, saying it's about making sure applicants are serious.
It’s the latest in a series of rule changes that one petitioner – country singer Corb Lund – characterizes as exhausting.
A cabinet order released late Wednesday afternoon upped the fee to $25,000 from $500.
Heather Jenkins, press secretary to Justice Minister Mickey Amery, says the cost will be refundable if the applicant meets the required threshold of signatures and completes reporting requirements.
"Citizen initiative petitions are costly,” Jenkins said Thursday in a statement.
“That is why a higher application fee was chosen, to discourage frivolous applications and protect Alberta taxpayers.”
The move comes despite previous efforts by Smith's United Conservative Party government to make it easier for citizens to apply for a policy initiative or a constitutional referendum, including efforts to put Alberta separation on the ballot.
Lund may not have to pay the higher fee.
Elections Alberta confirmed Thursday his prior application to launch a referendum to stop new coal mining in Alberta's Rockies will have a grace period
The new fee would be waived if Lund files his paperwork by Jan. 11.
Lund, in an interview, said it’s disturbing to see Smith’s government make sudden rule changes for what he views as "random, self-serving reasons.”
"The chaos and confusion and exhaustion is very similar to the same confusion, chaos and exhaustion that we've seen from the government on how they've been handling the coal situation for the last six years," Lund said.
"It just keeps changing."
He said no matter what else might shift, he won't be deterred from completing a process that's already been cancelled by recent election law changes, forcing him to start again.
"We'll fill out as many forms as they make us fill out if it means we can keep the coal mines out of the headwaters of the rivers that provide our drinking water."
Premier Smith has long championed the merits of direct democracy.
In late November, when asked about Lund's petition, she said, "I support citizen-initiated referenda. I think it's really important that people have their say. The rules are out there, and I will watch with great interest.”
Earlier this year, Smith's government significantly lowered the thresholds for citizens to apply for a referendum, including the number of signatures required.
Earlier this month, her government passed a new law to clear further legal hurdles faced by those aiming to hold a separation referendum.
A pro-Confederation petition organized by former Alberta deputy premier Thomas Lukaszuk is not affected. Elections Alberta has already certified that petition as having the required signatures. Lukaszuk seeks to spike separatist sentiment by forcing a decision to reaffirm Alberta staying in Canada.
Another application has already received the green light to proceed. It seeks to gather signatures to ask whether Alberta should end spending public money on independent schools.
Alberta NDP justice critic Irfan Sabir says the fee increase shows the UCP government doesn't have any respect for the democratic process.
"This change is clearly meant to stifle democratic action,” Sabir said in a statement.
Chief electoral officer Gordon McClure told a legislative committee earlier this month it cost $340,000 to verify Lukaszuk’s petition and that the cost to prepare for a subsequent provincewide referendum would be more than $3 million.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 18, 2025.
Lisa Johnson, The Canadian Press
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