Overview
- Stay Free Alberta, which delivered about 301,000 signatures Monday to Elections Alberta, cannot have them verified because a judge has frozen the process.
- Justice Shaina Leonard issued a temporary stay on April 10 after several First Nations argued a secession vote would breach treaty and constitutional rights.
- A provincewide voters’ list was improperly shared with Centurion Project Ltd. and posted online, and the RCMP, Edmonton Police, and Elections Alberta are investigating how the leak could affect any signature check.
- If the stay is lifted, Elections Alberta says it would have 21 days to verify names and could take extra steps if anomalies appear, reflecting the agency’s concern about data integrity.
- Premier Danielle Smith says she would hold a vote if the petition is validated, but polls show most Albertans prefer to stay in Canada and any yes result would still face a federal clarity review under the Clarity Act.