Alberta’s Minister of Justice Mickey Amery is asking Elections Alberta to withdraw a referral to a court to decide if a proposed referendum question about independence is allowed under the law.“We encourage Elections Alberta to withdraw its court reference and permit Albertans their democratic right to participate in the citizen initiative process,” Amery said in a post on X.“Response to Citizen Initiative Process: The recently passed amendments to the Citizen Initiative Act are intended to be broadly permissive and to allow Albertans the opportunity to launch a referendum petition without needless bureaucratic red tape or court applications slowing the process. As it is the Government of Alberta that ultimately decides how or if to implement any referendum result, those government decisions will ultimately be subject to constitutional scrutiny.”Premier Danielle Smith agrees with Amery. She also took to X, saying the justice minister is right about Albertans’ right to participate in the citizen initiative process, noting that “they shouldn’t be slowed down by bureaucratic red tape or court applications.”In her post, Smith reiterated her belief of a sovereign Alberta within a united Canada..Court to determine legality of Alberta independence question.The proposal was submitted by a citizen named Mitch Sylvestre on July 4, asking:“Do you agree that the Province of Alberta shall become a sovereign country and cease to be a province in Canada?”Electoral Officer Gordon McClure sent the proposal to the Court of King’s Bench to decide whether the question breaks any rules in the Constitution Act, 1982, which outlines the basic laws and rights in Canada.Both Sylvestre and Alberta’s Minister of Justice were officially notified that the court will review the proposal and decide if it’s legal.Updates will be posted on the Elections Alberta website, and the court file number will be shared once it’s available..EXCLUSIVE: UCP members propose party vote on Alberta independence.The Chief Electoral Officer of Alberta issued a statement Tuesday saying seeking the opinion of the court is an independent, neutral, and non-partisan matter, noting that it’s one of his duties under the Citizen Initiative Act.He says the proposed referendum question is “serious, with the potential to have a profound impact on all Albertans.”“Elections Alberta is an independent, non-partisan office of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta, responsible for administering provincial elections, by-elections, and referendums,” reads the statement.Under Alberta’s Citizen Initiative Act, people can suggest new laws or ask for referendums, as long as those ideas follow the Canadian Constitution..What happens if Alberta stops making the equalization payments?
