Alberta separatists say they have enough signatures for referendum on leaving Canada

Separatists successful Alberta declared they now person capable signatures to trigger a ballot connected nan state leaving Canada. 

The Stay Free Alberta group said Monday it formally submitted almost 302,000 signatures aft needing 178,000 names to unit nan state to see specified a ballot measure. The mobility of separation could spell connected a provincewide ballot arsenic early arsenic October, arsenic Alberta Premier Danielle Smith has said she would move guardant if capable names are gathered and verified.   

"This time is historical successful Alberta history," Mitch Sylvestre, nan caput of Stay Free Alberta, said Monday arsenic he arrived astatine nan Elections Alberta agency successful Edmonton leading a convoy of 7 trucks to present nan names. "It’s nan first measurement to nan adjacent measurement — we’ve gotten by Round 3 and now we’re successful nan Stanley Cup final." 

Smith has said she personally does not support nan oil-rich state leaving Canada, but she has accused previous federal Liberal governments of introducing authorities that hamstrings Alberta’s expertise to nutrient and export oil, which she said has costs nan state billions of dollars, and noted that she doesn’t want nan national government meddling in provincial issues, according to The Associated Press.

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Supporters transportation boxes of signatures to taxable for a separation referendum to Elections Alberta successful Edmonton connected May 4, 2026. (Jason Franson/The Canadian Press)

More than 300 supporters gathered successful Edmonton connected Monday, waving nan provincial emblem and chanting "Alberta strong." 

A "yes" ballot would not trigger independency automatically, arsenic negotiations pinch nan national authorities would person to return place. 

Daniel Béland, a governmental subject professor astatine McGill University successful Montreal, told nan AP that contempt nan independency effort, wide Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney "is so popular, moreover successful Alberta."

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Mitch Sylvestre, nan caput of Stay Free Alberta, holds boxes of signatures earlier submitting them for a separation referendum to Elections Alberta successful Edmonton connected May 4, 2026. (Jason Franson/The Canadian Press)

"The push for independency by immoderate Albertans predates his prime ministership and it’s related to economic, fiscal, and governmental grievances astir the seemingly unfair treatment of Alberta by nan national government," Béland said. "These concerns accrued during nan Justin Trudeau years but they person peaked and moreover declined since he near office." 

Béland added that some Indigenous groups that are already utilizing nan courts to forestall an independency referendum would usage venues including nan courts to extremity independency from happening.

Mitch Sylvestre submits signatures for a separation referendum to Elections Alberta successful Edmonton connected May 4, 2026, arsenic supporters alert flags down him. (Jason Franson/The Canadian Press)

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The petition for a referendum could look a hurdle this week arsenic an Edmonton judge is expected to norm connected a tribunal situation by Alberta First Nations, who opportunity separation would break pact rights. 

The Associated Press contributed to this report.