Treaty 8 chiefs demand Alberta pause separation referendum

Pressure is mounting on the Alberta government to halt its separation referendum plans, with Treaty 8 First Nations demanding the province pause all related initiatives until proper consultation occurs.

In an open letter sent Wednesday, Grand Chief Trevor Mercredi argued that Premier Danielle Smith's comments dismissing the need for consultation on the referendum have placed Alberta "on a course towards direct constitutional conflict" with Treaty 8 nations.

Smith proposed in May that a referendum question be added to the October 19 ballot, asking residents if the province should begin the legal process for a binding separation vote. The move came after a court ruling quashed the "Stay Free Alberta" separation petition for failing to consult with First Nations—a decision Smith called a misinterpretation of the duty to consult.

Mercredi contested Smith's assertion that the duty to consult applies only to major projects, not referendum questions. "The duty to consult is not a bureaucratic inconvenience," he wrote. "It is a constitutional obligation that arises whenever the Crown contemplates action, or authorizes processes under its authority, that may adversely affect treaty rights."

Smith's office responded that 700,000 Albertans signed petitions requesting a referendum on separation, and stated that "the referendum question does not trigger any duty to consult." The office added: "We trust that Albertans will freely and openly debate this question and ultimately make the right decision for our province."

Meanwhile, the NDP is urging 36 UCP MLAs to publicly declare their position on the referendum. Deputy Leader Rakhi Pancholi noted that only 10 UCP members besides Smith have stated how they will vote, contrasting with all NDP MLAs who publicly opposed separatism in January.