Alberta’s top election official has asked a court to decide if a proposed referendum question about independence is allowed under the law.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 has 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.Under Alberta’s Citizen Initiative Act, people can suggest new laws or ask for referendums, as long as those ideas follow the Canadian Constitution..'IT'S SIMPLY NOT FAIR': Smith says Alberta could consider pulling out of supply management.Both Sylvestre and Alberta’s Minister of Justice have been 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.To hold an independence referendum in Alberta, currently, the process can be initiated through two primary mechanisms under existing legislation: the Referendum Act and the Citizen Initiative Act.A petition must collect signatures from approximately 600,000 eligible voters (about 20% of Alberta’s eligible voters, based on the 2019 election turnout) within a 90-day period.If passed, the new law will cut the number needed in half to 10%..Should Alberta have its own police force? What are the costs that come with it?.Following the federal election in April, the Alberta government introduced Bill 54 — the Election Statutes Amendment Act — aiming to enhance the integrity and accessibility of provincial elections and emphasizing referendums, signalingpushback against the federal Liberal government led by Prime Minister Mark Carney.The proposed legislation, tabled by Premier Danielle Smith’s United Conservative Party (UCP) government, seeks to protect democratic processes, ensure fair and transparent elections, and boost public confidence in voting outcomes, according to a government news release.Bill 54 is now before the legislature for debate and consideration.“I believe in Alberta sovereignty within a united Canada. However, there is a citizen initiative referendum process that if citizens want to put a question on a ballot and get enough of their fellow citizens to sign that petition, then those questions will be put forward. Again, I don’t want to prejudge what a question might be, but not by our government," said Smith when asked if the door is open to Alberta leaving confederation.With files from James Snell.What happens if Alberta stops making the equalization payments?
