Smith says timing may prevent coal mining referendum question from appearing on October ballot

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says it may be too late for a citizen-led petition seeking a ban on new coal mining projects to be included in the province's Oct. 19 referendum vote.

Earlier this month, Alberta musician Corb Lund submitted what he said were more than 200,000 signatures in support of a petition that would require the Alberta government to consider legislation banning new coal mining or submit the matter to a provincewide referendum if the signatures are verified.

According to Alberta's citizen initiative rules, a successful petition can compel the government to either introduce legislation reflecting the proposal or place the question before voters. Verification of the signatures remains ongoing.

Smith said Elections Alberta, which administers provincial votes, advised that referendum questions needed to be finalized by June 1 to allow sufficient time for ballot preparation and administration. She suggested that timeline may make it difficult to add the coal mining question to the ballot already scheduled for Oct. 19.

The United Conservative government has already announced plans to include 10 referendum questions in the October vote, including one asking Albertans whether the province should remain in Canada or hold a second referendum on secession.