Smith adds second separation question to Alberta referendum ballot
By Your Southwest Media Group
EDMONTON - Alberta Premier Danielle Smith announced May 21 that her government will add a second separation-related question to the province's Oct. 19, 2026 referendum ballot, responding to a court ruling that struck down a citizen-led petition on Alberta independence.
The new question will ask Albertans whether the province should remain in Canada or whether the Alberta government should "commence the legal process required under the Canadian Constitution to hold a binding provincial referendum" on separation.
The move follows an Alberta judge's ruling last week that the "Stay Free Alberta" citizen initiative petition was unconstitutional. The judge found that the group had not adequately consulted a First Nation about the petition's potential effect on treaty rights.
Smith said the ruling "fundamentally misinterprets the nature of the duty to consult" and that her government will appeal to the Alberta Court of Appeal, and to the Supreme Court of Canada if necessary. She acknowledged the appeal process could take months or years.
The premier said roughly 700,000 Albertans have signed petitions on the question, combining signatures from the pro-separation "Stay Free Alberta" campaign and the "Forever Canada" petition supporting continued membership in the federation.
"Alberta's future will be decided by Albertans, not the courts," Smith said.
Smith stated she will personally vote against separation and that her caucus and government support Alberta remaining in Canada. She said the new question avoids the court ruling because it does not directly trigger separation, but instead directs the government to begin the constitutional process for a future binding vote.
The premier credited what she described as a shift in federal policy under Prime Minister Mark Carney, citing an Alberta-Ottawa energy memorandum of understanding that she said has scrapped federal net-zero electricity regulations, ended the oil and gas production cap, and advanced pipeline projects. She said a proposed million-barrel-per-day pipeline to the British Columbia coast is on track to complete permitting by September 2027.
Smith urged separation supporters to reconsider and asked Albertans on both sides to avoid what she called "division and demonization tactics" during the campaign.
Background information on the referendum questions is posted at AlbertaReferendum2026.ca.