Alberta Begins Verifying Signatures for Independence Referendum Petition

Elections Alberta began verifying signatures on July 6, 2026, for a citizen initiative petition seeking a referendum on whether Alberta should separate from Canada. The petition group, Stay Free Alberta, claims to have collected nearly 302,000 signatures, exceeding the required threshold of 177,732. The agency expects to publish the results by July 27.

This process follows a June 29 Court of Appeal decision granting a partial stay. The ruling allows verification to proceed while proponent Mitch Sylvestre appeals a previous Court of King's Bench decision that had quashed the petition for failing to comply with provincial law and neglecting to consult First Nations.

Parallel to the petition process, Premier Danielle Smith has called a provincial referendum for October 19, 2026. Voters will be asked if they wish to remain in Canada or begin the process for a second, binding vote on separation. Smith stated that a binding vote this fall is impossible due to the lengthy nature of the ongoing appeal process.