Elections Alberta will verify separatist referendum petition signatures by July 27
The Stay Free Alberta petition, submitted in early May, claimed nearly 302,000 signatures — far exceeding the roughly 178,000 needed to force provincial action on separation.
The day's top stories, food & events — every morning at 7. Unsubscribe anytime.
Elections Alberta will begin verifying signatures on a petition seeking to force a vote on the province separating from Canada, the agency announced this week.
The petition was submitted in early May but was quashed two weeks later when a judge ruled it violated provincial law and said First Nations needed to be consulted. However, in a partial legal victory for the petition group Stay Free Alberta, another judge ruled last week that signature verification should proceed while the original ruling is appealed.
Elections Alberta says the petition sheets have been stored in locked cabinets under security guard watch. The agency is set to publish verification results by July 27.
Stay Free Alberta says it collected nearly 302,000 signatures, well above the roughly 178,000 threshold needed to trigger provincial action. Premier Danielle Smith has already called a referendum for October 19, when Albertans will be asked whether they want to remain in Canada or start the process toward a second, binding vote on separation.
Smith has said the appeal process is expected to take months or longer, making it impossible to hold a binding separation vote this fall.
