Alberta separatists submitted thousands of signatures on a petition referendum that would ask Albertans if the province should leave Canada.
Elections Alberta still has to confirm the number of signatures, but Mitch Sylvestre, head of the Stay Free Alberta campaign, said they collected more than 300,000 signatures, well over the 178,000 required.
“It was a lot of work and it was full-time work for four months,” Sylvestre told media at the Elections Alberta office in Edmonton Monday afternoon. “We’re happy with the number.”
Now that the signatures have been submitted, Stay Free Alberta will be dissolved, said Sylvestre, and he will move his efforts back to the Alberta Prosperity Project (APP).
“We put the Alberta Prosperity Project to bed because we didn’t want any conflict of interest or third party violations,” said Sylvestre. “Right now, Stay Free Alberta is done. It succeeded. It accomplished the mission.”
Albertans could see the question on separation on a ballot in October, but an Edmonton judge is anticipated to deliver a ruling on a court challenge of the petition launched by a group of First Nations who say it violates treaty rights.
Lori Williams, associate professor of policy studies at Mount Royal University in Calgary, said the referendum is “increasingly likely” to go forward, even if the courts order the petition unconstitutional.
“This group has indicated that the premier has the power under the Referendum Act … and there will be pretty intense pressure on her to do so,” said Williams.
Once the signatures have been verified by Elections Alberta, the legislative assembly will review the petition and the government will bring forward a motion to have the proposal referred to a committee.
If the petition moves forward, Albertans could see the question on separation alongside Forever Canadian’s, which would ask if Alberta should remain in Confederation.
Led by former deputy premier Thomas Lukaszuk, the Forever Canadian petition acquired more than 456,000 signatures in late October.