Alberta’s Republican party calls for binding referendum on sovereignty

The Republican Party of Alberta says its within the government's power to put separation on a referendum ballot without a petition. (File)

The Republican Party of Alberta is calling on the premier to bypass the petition process and commit to a binding referendum on Alberta independence.

The party issued a statement Monday, arguing the province already has the authority to schedule such a referendum, without requiring a petition.

“Albertans deserve clarity on their future, and delaying this decision only deepens the challenges we face.” the party says in its release.

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The Republican Party says federal mismanagement has led to deficits, debt and an increased cost of living and suggests if the current provincial government does not act, Albertans will replace it with one that will.

On Monday, Premier Danielle Smith shrugged off the party’s suggestion, telling reporters in Calgary that her government will not be submitting a referendum question related to separation.

“We’re not putting forward a question on the issue of independence, we are putting forward questions on how we can be a bit more like Quebec, should we collect our own taxes, should we have more control over our own immigration system, should we put the question of an Alberta pension plan to the people,” said Smith.

A judge is currently reviewing whether a proposed referendum question from the Alberta Prosperity Project, asking if Alberta should leave Canada, violates the Constitution, including treaty rights.

A ruling is expected before the end of this year.

Meantime, a competing referendum is gaining momentum, with more than 40 in-person locations accepting signatures on Tuesday alone.

Former deputy premier Thomas Lukaszuk’s group Forever Canadian hopes to get an anti-separation policy proposal or referendum on the ballot.

Lukaszuk needs to collect 294,000 signatures in 90 days, because his proposal was filed before new rules with lower thresholds took effect.