Alberta’s Chief Electoral Officer Gordon McClure announced Monday that a Citizen Initiative Petition has been approved.The petition paves the way for a potential province-wide vote on a timely question: “Do you agree that Alberta should remain in Canada?”The approval follows the submission of a citizen initiative application, which met the requirements of Section 2(3) of the Citizen Initiative Act, as confirmed in a Notice of Initiative Petition issued by Elections Alberta.The application, submitted by Thomas Lukaszuk, along with a statement and notice, is now available on the Current Initiatives Petition page of Elections Alberta’s website.It's not believed Lukaszuk, for former provincial cabinet minister, will have the ability to raise the tens of thousands of signatures needed for the referendum to go ahead.It's the opposite question that Alberta indepence supporters want: "Should Alberta leave Canada.'.Smith says support for Alberta independence at all-time high.Lukaszuk lists several motivators for this petition, such as the ongoing discussions about Alberta’s separation from Canada. He also argues that if a referendum appears imminent, it should be objective and not subject to the influence of special interest groups.He further believes, “The majority of Alberta’s residents are loyal Canadians opposed to any form of separation.”Recent Angus Reid Institute data showed that support for Albertan independence remains a minority position (36%), while only 19% of respondents said they would definitely vote “yes” to leave if a referendum were held.According to Elections Alberta, the application was received and approved before the enactment of Bill 54: Election Statutes Amendment Act, and the initiative will proceed under the rules of the Citizen Initiative Act as they stood on June 30, 2025..GIESBRECHT: The 'unknown unknowns' of Alberta independence .The next steps involve the proponent appointing a Chief Financial Officer by July 30, 2025.Following a 30-day publication period and the appointment of the officer, Elections Alberta will then issue the petition, publish details on the signing period and required signatures, and provide official signature sheets and witness affidavits.This initiative marks a significant moment for Alberta, as the proposed question could spark a broad debate about the province’s place within Confederation.Further details on the citizen initiative process, financing rules, and third-party advertising regulations are available on the Elections Alberta website.
