Alberta to hold fall referendum on whether to have binding referendum on separating from Canada
Premier Danielle Smith says Albertans will be able to vote in the fall on whether they want the province to hold a binding referendum on separating from Canada.
In a pre-recorded speech broadcast on television Thursday evening, Smith said a question will be added to a provincewide referendum in October that will ask, “Should Alberta remain a province of Canada or should the Government of Alberta commence the legal process required under the Canadian Constitution to hold a binding provincial referendum on whether or not Alberta should separate from Canada?”
Smith said a vote in favour of separation doesn’t trigger the process, but will instead allow Alberta to start a legal process required to hold a binding referendum.
In her address on Thursday, she also affirmed that she would vote in favour of staying in Canada.
In a ruling last week, Justice Shaina Leonard of the Court of King’s Bench of Alberta put a stop to a petition calling for a referendum on independence that was being circulated by the pro-separatist group Stay Free Alberta. That petition asked Albertans if they wanted Alberta to “cease to be part of Canada to become an independent state.”
Smith had strong words in her address on Thursday for what she called “a legal mistake by a single judge” and a “troubling court decision.”
Smith and Stay Free Alberta said they are going to appeal the decision. However, the premier, in her speech, reminded people the process could take years to resolve.
“Kicking the can down the road only prolongs a very emotional and important debate, and muzzling the voices of hundreds of thousands of Albertans wanting to be heard is unjustifiable in a free and democratic society,” Smith said.
“It’s time to have a vote, understand the will of Albertans on this subject, and move on.”
Smith spent part of her address speaking directly to the more than 300,000 people who signed the Stay Free Alberta petition.
She said the tide has turned since Mark Carney succeeded Justin Trudeau as Canada’s prime minister. Since Carney became prime minister, there have been more discussions between the federal government and Alberta about how to advance energy and resource development.
Smith said she has empathy for Albertans who want independence, and understands why they are frustrated with the province’s position in the federation.
She had a message for them Thursday night: don’t give up on Confederation.
“I ask you to please consider joining me to vote for Alberta to remain in Canada, and not give up on our beautiful country just as we’re gaining respect and the tide has turned in our favour,” Smith said.
Hours before Smith’s address, a legislative committee looking at a pro-Canada petition from a group called Forever Canadian completed two days of meetings.
The committee approved a motion on Thursday that will recommend to the government that the question on the ballot this fall “include an option for Albertans to vote for Alberta to remain in Canada.”
Wednesday’s committee meeting on the Forever Canadian petition went off the rails when the governing United Conservative caucus issued a news release stating MLAs on the committee had approved a question to recommend to the government before the committee even voted on a motion.
Committee chair and MLA Brandon Lunty, who was quoted in the release, refused an NDP request to recuse himself from the meeting.
cbc.ca
