A pro-Canadian group has been given the green light to collect signatures to keep Alberta in Canada.
Alberta Forever Canada said its petition is a way for Albertans to “easily express their pride in Alberta and loyalty to Canada,” said Ken Chapman, a retired lawyer and founder of “Reboot Alberta.”
“We want to provide a truthful counter-narrative to the disinformation of the Alberta Prosperity Project [APP].”
The APP is pushing the province to hold a referendum on separation next year. It said it is acting on deep dissatisfaction among voters with the way Alberta is viewed and treated in Canada.
Its proposed ballot question was recently sent to a judge for approval.
It asks: “Do you agree that the Province of Alberta shall become a Sovereign Country and cease to be a province in Canada?”
The Alberta Forever Canada petition asks: “Do you agree that Alberta should remain in Canada?”
It requires 293,976 (10 per cent of eligible voters) signatures by Oct. 28, according to rules set by Elections Alberta.
Chapman pointed out that the APP’s plan threatens treaties with First Nations in Alberta.
“The respect for the treaty obligations is non-existent in the separatist rhetoric,” Chapman said. “We recognize the significance of the treaties as agreements between sovereign nations.
“Alberta shouldn’t be allowed to separate without the prior agreement of all impacted First Nations and totally binding replacement of all Treaty obligations with the independent Alberta entity.”
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Chapman said that negotiation would have to include the government of Canada to ensure the replacement agreement is comprehensive and the obligations are clarified.
“All the common law that has been developed through treaty right litigation decisions must also be assumed by the new independent Alberta. This all must be negotiated and agreed to before any separation referendum is put to Albertans,” Chapman said.
Chapman said his group has reached out to First Nations in Alberta for their support.
According to Elections Alberta, if the petition collects the needed signatures, it will be sent to the provincial legislature and eventually to a committee to be studied.
The committee can recommend that a referendum take place – or that no action should be taken.
If it recommends a referendum, one has to take place before the next provincial election.
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