Alberta premier promises separation referendum in 2026 if petition signatures warrant [Video]

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says she will hold a referendum on provincial separation next year if citizens gather the required signatures on a petition.

Smith, in a livestream address Monday, said she wants a sovereign Alberta within a united Canada but there is a growing number of Albertans who are unhappy with Confederation, and are organizing petitions to push for an exit.

“The vast majority of these individuals are not fringe voices to be marginalized or vilified. They are loyal Albertans,” she said.

“They’re frustrated, and they have every reason to be.”

Last week, a day after the federal election, Smith’s United Conservative government introduced legislation that, if passed, would sharply reduce the bar petitioners need to meet to trigger a provincial referendum.

The bill would change citizen-initiated referendum rules to require a petition signed by 10 per cent of the eligible voters in a previous general election — down from 20 per cent of total registered voters. Applicants …