Alberta introduces bill that would make it easier to separate from Canada
Posted Apr 29, 2025 4:35 pm.
Last Updated Apr 29, 2025 6:21 pm.
A day after Canada’s Liberals won a fourth consecutive mandate, Alberta’s government has introduced a bill that would make it easier to start a referendum – including one on separating from Canada.
“We were going to introduce it regardless of what the outcome was,” said Alberta Premier Danielle Smith. “It just so happens that this is the timing now that we’re back from a week of constituency break.”
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Bill 54 proposes many changes to Alberta’s election rules. Among them is lowering the threshold for a citizen-led referendum to 10 per cent of people who voted in the last election. It would currently take 20 per cent of eligible voters.
The bill would also allow 120 days to gather those signatures – a boost from 90 days.
While the premier openly wanted Pierre Poilievre’s Conservatives to win, she says she’s still not a separatist after Mark Carney’s victory.
“I believe in Alberta sovereignty within a united Canada,” Smith said. “However, there is a citizen referenda process that if citizens want to put a question on a ballot and get enough of their fellow citizens to sign that petition, then those questions will be put forward. Again, I don’t want to prejudge what a question might be.”
‘Leave public life forever’
But the Alberta NDP is accusing the premier’s stance of being both dangerous and cowardly.
“If you’re going to flirt with separatism, call a referendum,” said Naheed Nenshi. “Just do it and let’s see what Albertans have to say. And by the way, premier, when you lose that referendum, please leave public life forever.”
In the lead-up to the federal election, nearly one-third of Albertans (30 per cent) told a pollster they would want to separate from Canada if the Liberals were elected again.
An Alberta independence rally is being planned for Saturday at the legislature.
Among the growing list of separatists is the new leader of the Republican Party of Alberta.
Cameron Davies, a former UCP organizer, is now promising hundreds of townhalls to promote a divorce from Canada.
“After decades of attempts at reconciliation with the rest of Canada, now is the time to end the abusive and toxic relationship with Ottawa and the east that we find ourselves in today,” Davies said.
Alberta independence talk is not new and it’s still not realistic, says political columnist Graham Thomson.
“It’s a pipe dream,” said Thomson, who’s covered Alberta politics since the late 1980s. “Separation in Alberta is not going to happen, but Alberta politicians have played with this as a way of inflaming rhetoric against the federal government, usually the Liberals.”
With a UCP majority, Bill 54 is expected to pass. It could come into effect in a matter of months.
