Overview
- An Alberta Court of Appeal panel, which heard arguments Thursday, said Justice Alice Woolley has misgivings about parts of a lower-court ruling that tossed a separatist petition and has reserved judgment on whether to stay that order.
- Court of King’s Bench Justice Shaina Leonard ruled in May that the Stay Free Alberta petition should not be certified because the province failed to consult First Nations and because secession could affect constitutionally protected treaty rights.
- Stay Free Alberta says it collected about 301,000 signatures and its lawyer asked the court for a stay so Elections Alberta can verify them, but the agency remains barred from counting the boxes and is keeping them under 24-hour surveillance.
- The legal fight is unfolding as Premier Danielle Smith has put a non-binding question on the Oct. 19 ballot and a pro-Canada petition with roughly 404,000 verified names has already been submitted, while separatists launched a 'Let Alberta Decide' campaign in Calgary.
- The dispute matters beyond this petition because Canadian law requires consultation and federal-provincial negotiation for any serious secession push, and the debate has heightened local tensions even as polls show most Albertans favour staying in Canada.