Alberta Premier Danielle Smith said she will hold a referendum on the province seceding from Canada next year if citizens gather enough signatures.
Smith personally opposes the province separating from Canada but said it’s up to Albertans to make that decision.
“Should Ottawa, for whatever reason, continue to attack our province as they have done over the last decade, ultimately that will be for Albertans to decide,” Smith said.
“I will accept their judgement,” she added.
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To Albertans feeling unheard by Ottawa, Premier Smith hears you. She commits to respecting a citizen-led referendum on independence in 2026, empowering Albertans to shape their future. Frustrated by Ottawa’s attacks on Alberta’s prosperity, Premier Smith vows to uphold the… pic.twitter.com/QDm1myVXXZ
— Keith Wilson, K.C. (@ikwilson) May 5, 2025
From the Associated Press:
Smith’s announcement comes just one week after Prime Minister Mark Carney led the Liberal Party to a fourth consecutive federal government. It also comes as U.S. President Donald Trump continues to threaten Canada with tariffs and talk of the country becoming the 51st state.
ADVERTISEMENTCarney and Trump are scheduled to meet in the White House Tuesday.
Smith’s United Conservative government recently introduced legislation that, if passed, would reduce the bar petitioners need to meet to trigger a provincial referendum.
The bill would change citizen-initiated referendum rules to require a petition signed by 10 percent of eligible voters in a previous general election — down from 20 percent of total registered voters. Applicants would also get 120 days, rather than 90, to collect the required 177,000 signatures.
Smith accused previous federal Liberal governments of introducing different legislations that hamstring Alberta’s ability to produce and export oil, which she said has cost the province billions of dollars. She also said she doesn’t want the federal government meddling in provincial issues.
WATCH:
HUGE win for Alberta sovereignty! Premier Smith’s updated Citizen Initiative Act slashes the referendum signature requirement from 600K to just 177K—10% of last election’s voters—and extends collection from 90 to 120 days. These changes make a referendum on Alberta independence… pic.twitter.com/7McdK2jTWt
— Keith Wilson, K.C. (@ikwilson) April 29, 2025
Per The Economic Times:
Premier Smith has also announced the formation of the “Alberta Next” panel, which will host a series of town halls to gather ideas and grievances from Albertans. The panel aims to explore ways to protect the province from perceived economic incursions by the federal government. Smith stated that some of the more popular ideas discussed with the panel may be placed on the 2026 referendum ballot, allowing all Albertans to vote on them.
If a citizen-led petition successfully triggers a referendum and the majority of voters choose to separate from Canada, the province would face significant legal and constitutional challenges. According to Canada’s Clarity Act, any province seeking to secede must receive a clear majority in a referendum and negotiate with the federal government.
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