Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says Albertans should decide the province’s future relationship with Canada in an October referendum, as critics warn the move is intensifying separatist sentiment and raising constitutional concerns.
Opponents, including Alberta NDP Leader Naheed Nenshi and chiefs from Treaty 8 First Nations, accused the government Friday of encouraging division while sidestepping obligations to Indigenous communities.
Smith said she supports Alberta remaining in Canada but believes growing dissatisfaction within the province can no longer be ignored.
“I’m fiercely loyal to both Alberta and Canada,” Smith said. “I support remaining in Canada and that has and will continue to be the position of my government and my caucus.”
She said a recent court decision means Alberta cannot legally hold a binding separation referendum at this time. Instead, voters would be asked whether they want Alberta to remain in Canada or begin legal and constitutional steps that could eventually lead to a binding vote.
“To those Albertans wanting a binding separation referendum in October, this simply isn’t possible,” she said. “With the recent court ruling there’s no legal way to hold a binding separation referendum.”
Under the proposed question, Albertans would choose either to stay in Canada or support launching what Smith described as “the necessary, albeit lengthy legal processes” tied to separation.
Smith says petitions showed demand for referendum
Smith said her government considered two large petition campaigns before deciding to proceed, including one supporting a referendum on remaining in Canada and another supporting a separation question.
“That’s 700,000 Albertans. Clearly, they want to have this debate,” Smith said.
She argued refusing to hold a vote despite those petitions would be “anti-democratic.”
“We cannot kick this can down the road,” she said. “Now is the time for Albertans to decide whether we want to spend the time, expense and effort pursuing separation or whether Albertans want to remain in Canada.”
Smith said she plans to campaign actively for Alberta to remain in Confederation through town halls and other public events over the coming months.
“I’ll be doing everything I can to convince my fellow Albertans that the choice should be to remain.”
At the same time, she said her government would respect the referendum result, including a vote in favour of beginning the legal path toward separation.
“If option two wins, I’ll start the legal process to get it to a point of a binding referendum,” she said.
Smith also defended the wording of the ballot after criticism from some separatists who wanted a direct independence vote. She said ongoing legal barriers left the province with “no other option.”
Nenshi accuses premier of fuelling separatism
Nenshi said Smith is attempting to distance herself politically from a referendum she helped bring forward.
“The Premier is engaged in ultimate gaslighting on this question,” Nenshi said. “The person who is driving this referendum, the person who needed to make this referendum happen, is the Premier.”
He disputed Smith’s claim that all petition supporters wanted a referendum campaign.
“I know every single one of you was doing it to avoid a referendum,” he said of people who signed the “Forever Canadian” petition. “For Danielle Smith to say, ‘Oh, you wanted a referendum,’ not only is it lies, not only is it gaslighting, it treats Albertans like they’re idiots.”
Nenshi also argued Smith faces pressure from separatist voices inside the governing United Conservative Party.
“She understands that if she comes out as a full-throated separatist, she loses the election,” he said. “But if she comes out as a full-throated Canadian, she loses her job as leader of the UCP.”
He warned a referendum campaign could create years of uncertainty for businesses and investors.
“This referendum will cost Alberta taxpayers anywhere between $50 million and $100 million,” Nenshi said. “I’d rather have that in hospitals and schools myself.”
Treaty 8 chiefs cite constitutional obligations
Chiefs representing Treaty 8 First Nations in Alberta also voiced concerns about the province’s approach to separation-related initiatives.
Grand Chief Trevor Mercredi said governments cannot pursue constitutional changes affecting Treaty rights without consulting First Nations communities.
“These are important legal and constitutional victories, but the fight is far from over,” Mercredi said. “Treaty Nations are not idle on this issue. We will continue to defend the Constitution, uphold the Treaty relationship, and ensure our rights, lands, and jurisdictions are respected.”
Treaty 8 leaders said recent court interventions by First Nations helped prevent what they described as a constitutional conflict and forced Alberta to recognize its legal duty to consult.
“Treaty No. 8 was entered into with the Crown long before Alberta became a province,” Mercredi said. “These sacred agreements cannot simply be ignored or politically worked around.”
The chiefs are urging Alberta to suspend referendum-related activities until consultations with Treaty Nations occur. They also intend to ask Ottawa to review the referendum proposal under the federal Clarity Act.
Debate raises economic concerns
Smith rejected arguments from political opponents and business leaders who warned the referendum could damage Alberta’s investment climate.
She said years of federal policies affecting pipelines and energy development had already contributed to economic instability in the province.
“We need to get the answer to this now because we do not want this lingering around for one or two or three or five years creating that level of uncertainty,” Smith said.
Smith linked support for the referendum debate to broader frustrations over federal energy, immigration and firearms policies. She said many Albertans continue to feel disconnected from Ottawa despite recent co-operation with Prime Minister Mark Carney.
She also promoted the idea of a new West Coast pipeline and pointed to negotiations involving the Pathways Alliance emissions-reduction project as key to Alberta’s long-term economic growth and export capacity.
Meanwhile, Nenshi announced a new campaign, called “4Alberta4Canada,” aimed at organizing Albertans opposed to separation across party lines.
“For once, we have to set politics aside,” he said. “We have to take on the fight of our lives to save Canada.”
RELATED STORY: Province adding referendum question tied to separation debate
