What will the Alberta separation question look like in the fall referendum?

Premier Danielle Smith says she wants the province to remain in Canada, but can’t ignore the thousands of Albertans that signed the separatist petition.

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith has drawn criticism on both sides of the separation debate after announcing a new referendum question that asks voters if there should be a second, binding referendum on leaving Canada.

• Alberta government adds separation-related question to fall referendum

The Oct. 19 referendum will feature 10 questions asking for a mandate on a number of immigration and constitution-related questions, the first nine of which are ‘yes’ or ‘no’ answers.

The 10th is two-in-one: “Should Alberta remain a province of Canada, or should the Government of Alberta commence the legal process required under the Canadian Constitution to hold a binding provincial referendum on whether or not Alberta should separate from Canada?”

The premier’s spokesperson, Sam Blackett, confirmed the question would be presented in a checkbox format. Albertans can expect a format similar to the following:

Option A: Alberta should remain a province in Canada.

Option B: The Government of Alberta should commence the legal process required under the Canadian Constitution to hold a binding provincial referendum on whether or not Alberta should separate from Canada.

“It’s either option one, vote to remain in Canada, put an end to this debate, and fight to make our province and country stronger and more unified,” Smith said at a Calgary press conference in the Friday aftermath of her address.

“Or option two, to vote to commence the necessary, albeit lengthy, legal processes, appeals and other steps needed to legally separate from Canada.”

Elections Alberta, which is in charge of administering the vote but not developing the questions, says each of the 10 questions on the upcoming referendum will have its own separate ballot.

While the agency doesn’t have a budget hammered down yet, a spokesperson says the process will require 34-38 million ballots for the more than three million eligible Alberta voters and 60,000-90,000 election officers.

The ballots, by law, have to be counted within 48 hours.

A successful referendum vote requires a majority – more than 50 per cent of the vote.

“It’s also important to remember that electors are not required to vote on every question, and as with any election, may refuse any or all ballots at the voting station,” Elections Alberta told CTV News.

The newest Alberta referendum question in part echoes a pro-federalist Forever Canadian petition which asked, “Do you agree that Alberta should remain in Canada?”

The second part is a nod toward separatist efforts by Stay Free Alberta before its petition question was ruled unconstitutional by a judge for its failure to consult First Nations.

Smith says her government intends to honour the results of the fall referendum.