Alberta separatist petition effort hits final day for gathering names

People line up to sign a petition that seeks to have a referendum on Alberta separation, in Stony Plain, Alta., Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson

EDMONTON — It’s the last day for Alberta separatists to gather petition signatures that could trigger a referendum on pulling the province out of Confederation.

Because the deadline falls on a weekend, however, they have two extra days to deliver the petition.

Mitch Sylvestre, head of the group Stay Free Alberta, says it plans to hand the paperwork in Monday to Elections Alberta’s head office in Edmonton.

More than a month ago, Sylvestre said they had already collected more than the approximate 178,000 signatures required since the petition started in January.

Premier Danielle Smith has said she would move forward with a provincewide referendum if enough names are gathered and verified, but the petition faces another hurdle.

An Edmonton judge is expected to rule next week on a court challenge launched by a group of Alberta First Nations that argue the petition violates treaty rights.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 2, 2026.

The Canadian Press