Edmonton (Rajeev Sharma): Danielle Smith said Monday that it is still unclear whether Alberta separation will appear as a referendum question in October, as the province waits on court rulings and committee reviews.
Former deputy premier Thomas Lukaszuk’s “Forever Canadian” petition asks Albertans: “Do you agree that Alberta should remain within Canada?” The petition is currently being reviewed by an MLA committee to determine whether it should move to the legislature or a referendum.
At the same time, Stay Free Alberta’s petition, led by Mitch Sylvestre, asks whether Alberta should leave Canada and become an independent state. More than 300,000 signatures were submitted, but validation has been paused after two First Nations secured a court injunction. The issue has also been overshadowed by the recent leak of Alberta’s voter list, now under investigation by police, privacy officials, and Elections Alberta.
“We’re waiting on a few things,” Smith said, adding that caucus and cabinet will decide after the legal process unfolds.
