Alberta separatist petition draws large crowds in Okotoks as tour continues

A province‑wide push to gather signatures in support of Alberta leaving Canada brought long lines and packed parking lots to Okotoks on Friday, as the Alberta Prosperity Project (APP) made its latest stop in its ongoing tour.

Chants of “Alberta proud!” rang out as supporters queued well before organizers were scheduled to begin collecting signatures.

Many in line said frustration with the federal government has been building for years. Tina White, waiting her turn to sign, said the turnout reflects a growing sentiment.

“I really believe this shows how people really feel about what’s going on,” she said.

Others echoed concerns about economic pressures and a sense that working‑class Albertans are being left behind.

“Blue collar, working in the trades… those are the people that suffer the most,” said Dylan Hazelwood. “They work the hardest and they have the hardest time with the economy.”

Okotoks is one of several Alberta communities to host organized petition events since Elections Alberta approved the citizen‑initiated petition at the start of January. Similar scenes have unfolded in Red Deer, Millet south of Edmonton, and Calgary, where lines have stretched around buildings.

Paul Brown, also waiting to sign, said the images circulating online match what he saw in person.

“The pictures they’re showing you, it’s exactly like this,” he said. “People lined up around the corner, down the road.”

To succeed, petitioners must gather more than 177,000 signatures by early May. If the threshold is met, Elections Alberta would be required to review the petition and determine next steps under the province’s citizen‑initiative legislation.

The APP says its tour will continue across Alberta in the coming weeks as organizers work to meet the signature requirement.