‘Alberta is Canada’ rally against lingering separation question

While separation is not on the referendum ballot yet, people came out to a provincewide rally Saturday in support of Alberta remaining in Canada.

However, many Albertans are expecting that a question on separation will be asked, including those at this Indigenous-led rally at Calgary City Hall.

Following a previous gathering in February, this is the second event by the group called “Treaties Are Forever, Alberta is Canada,” to advocate against separation.

“The treaties in Alberta are not optional agreements. They are constitutionally protected commitments between First Nations and the Crown,” said organizer Nicole Johnston, reading from a prepared statement.

“Any proposal for alberta separation, including those associated with Danielle Smith, cannot bypass these obligations. Ignoring treaty rights would raise serious legal and ethical issues.”

Johnston, who’s Blackfoot from Treaty 7, says she’s seen a shift in attitude towards her community as the separation debate heats up.

“What I’m seeing and what I’m enduring is a lot of racism. The racism has really flourished since the callout for this separation began,” she explained.

A pro-Canada event also took place in Edmonton on Saturday.

Meanwhile, during the launch of the information campaign for the fall referendum, the premier reiterated her position, adding that it’s also the government’s position.

“We should remain in Canada; that’s the position of our government,” Smith said. “We believe that we should assert sovereignty within a united Canada, so that is our policy.”

However, the leader of the opposition responded, saying the whole referendum process is politically motivated and will cost alberta taxpayers millions.

“The thing I’m most offended at is that a half a million Albertans signed a petition saying they believe in Canada. I believe it’s the largest petition in Canadian history, and the premier playing around with referenda and all these misadventures,” said Alberta NDP leader Naheed Nenshi.

“Well, where does that leave the people who signed the Forever Canadian petition?”

He’s talking about the petition organized last summer calling for Alberta to remain in Canada that collected nearly 440,000 valid signatures.

A legislative committee tasked with reviewing the Forever Canadian petition happened

An opposing petition promoting Alberta Independence is currently gathering signatures, but it is under a temporary court injunction for judicial review.

Johnston says she’ll continue holding these rallies in the coming months.

“We need to learn how to coexist together. We’re here today, no one’s going anywhere,” she said.

“We need to learn to live peacefully together to make our spaces safer for our children and our grandchildren, and our future grandchildren to come.”

The provincewide referendum is scheduled for Oct. 19.