Alberta to hold referendum on whether to remain in Canada

Key developments are emerging from the global stage. Alberta to hold referendum on whether to remain in Canada7 minutes ago Share Save Add as preferred on GoogleNadine YousifSenior Canada reporterReutersAlberta separatists have publicly pressured Premier Danielle Smith to include a question on independence in an October referendum. Alberta will hold a referendum on whether the province should remain in Canada or move ahead with a second binding vote on separation, marking the first significant test of the country's unity in decades. Thursday's announcement by Premier Danielle Smith comes after a citizen-led petition calling for separation gathered more than 300,000 signatures early this year and a separate petition advocating for Alberta to stay gathered more than 400,000.

A restive independence movement has been growing in the oil-rich province, built on a long-held sense that Alberta is overlooked by decision-makers in Ottawa. Still, opinion polls suggest that the majority of Albertans would vote against separating. The provincial referendum has been scheduled for 19 October, the premier said.

The Details

Smith, in a televised address, said the question being put to Albertans this coming autumn will be be: "Should Alberta remain a province of Canada or should the Government of Alberta commence the legal process required under the Canadian Constitution to hold a binding provincial referendum on whether or not Alberta should separate from Canada? "The premier said she herself will vote in favour of Alberta remaining a part of Canada. "That is how I would vote on separation in a provincial referendum," she said, adding, "It is also the position of my government and my caucus.

"However, she said she is "deeply troubled" by a court decision in which an Alberta judge tossed out a petition calling for a referendum on separation after indigenous First Nations groups argued that they were not properly consulted, which infringed on their rights. That halted the verification of the petition signatures, leaving the potential for a referendum in limbo. "As Premier, will not have a legal mistake by a single judge silence the voices of hundreds of thousands of Albertans," Smith said on Thursday.

"Alberta's future will be decided by Albertans, not the courts. "The western province has a population of four million. Smith has faced pressure from separatist Albertans to put their question on the ballot.

What Experts Say

Jeffrey Rath, a lawyer advocating for separation, wrote on social media on Wednesday that what Smith chooses to do "will be an existential decision for her premiership". Canada's unity has been under strain before. Quebec has voted twice against independence, the last time in 1995 that ended with a rasor-thin 50.

The country set out rules for separation following those battles. Even if Alberta's "leave" side proves successful in October, a long and uncertain path lies ahead.

The development has drawn wide international attention, with diplomatic circles watching closely.