Citizen-led petition on leaving Canada clears initial review by Elections Alberta

Alberta’s Chief Electoral Officer, Gordon McClure, has approved a citizen initiative petition application that would ask voters whether the province should leave Canada and become an independent state, marking a significant step in a long-running movement for provincial separation.

McClure determined the application meets the requirements of section 2 of the Citizen Initiative Act and issued a Notice of Initiative Petition, now published on the Elections Alberta website. A copy of the application was also provided to the provincial Minister of Justice, as required under the act.

The approved constitutional referendum proposal, sponsored by Mitch Sylvestre and the Alberta Prosperity Project (APP), poses the question: “Do you agree that the Province of Alberta should cease to be a part of Canada to become an independent state?”

The notice and full application materials, including contact information and the draft referendum question, can be accessed on Elections Alberta’s current initiative petitions page.  Elections Alberta

Under the Citizen Initiative Act, McClure must now determine whether the requirements for appointing a chief financial officer (CFO) have been fulfilled. After the mandatory publication period, Elections Alberta will issue the official petition, set the signature-collection period and specify how many signatures are required for the petition to succeed. Only signatures collected on the official forms will be accepted and canvassing cannot begin until the petition has been formally issued.

The approval of the initiative comes amid heightened political debate over Alberta’s relationship with Canada. The Alberta Prosperity Project has been a leading force pushing for a binding referendum on independence.

The group argues that Alberta’s economic and political interests are best served outside the Canadian federation and has mobilized supporters to gather pledges and prepare for the formal signature drive. Alberta Prosperity Project

Earlier this year, the APP’s original referendum question was referred to the Court of King’s Bench for constitutional review, triggering legislative changes aimed at simplifying the citizen initiative process and clarifying electoral oversight. Those changes removed certain procedural barriers and allowed the revised question to proceed.

The separatist movement in Alberta traces its recent resurgence to disagreements with federal policies, economic tensions over resource revenues and a perception among some residents that the province’s interests are not adequately represented in Ottawa. Groups such as the Alberta Prosperity Project have promoted sovereignty as a means to greater control over provincial affairs and resources.

Opposition to separation also exists. In a parallel citizen initiative earlier in 2025, former provincial cabinet minister Thomas Lukaszuk led a successful petition calling for a referendum on whether Alberta should remain part of Canada. In a recent interview, he described the separation movement as a form of internal threat, framing it in terms of race, age, ideology or faith, language that suggests dissenting political views are linked to extremism.

For now, signature gathering and campaign organization remain the next stages in what could become one of Alberta’s most consequential political contests in decades.