Alberta premier says she has not signed separation petition as referendum effort continues

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says she has not signed any citizen petitions currently circulating in the province, including one calling for a referendum on Alberta separating from Canada.

Speaking alongside Education Minister Demetrios Nicolaides, Smith said the citizen initiative process is designed for members of the public and not elected officials. She added that her government is monitoring several petition efforts underway but is not directly participating in them.

A group advocating for Alberta to become an independent country is working to gather the required signatures to trigger a provincewide referendum question. Organizers have until May to collect nearly 178,000 valid signatures under Alberta’s citizen initiative legislation.

Smith has previously stated she supports the concept of a sovereign Alberta within a united Canada, while also endorsing mechanisms that allow residents to bring forward referendum questions through direct democracy. The petition process, introduced under her government, sets strict timelines and signature thresholds before any proposal can proceed to a vote.

The issue of Alberta’s place within Confederation has resurfaced periodically, particularly during debates over federal energy and environmental policies. Political analysts note that even if a referendum question were approved, separation would involve complex constitutional negotiations with Ottawa and other provinces.