Alberta Premier Danielle Smith speaks during a televised address on May 21, 2026. Screenshot/Premier’s Office
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says her government will include a question in the province’s upcoming referendum asking whether Alberta should remain in Canada or whether the province should begin the process of holding a formal referendum on separation.
In a rare televised address, Smith said on May 21 that while she wants Alberta to remain a part of Canada, more than 700,000 Albertans have expressed on petitions that they want the issue to go to a vote, and she wants the public to have a say on the matter.
“Despite my personal support for remaining in Canada, I am deeply troubled by an erroneous court decision that interferes with the democratic rights of hundreds of thousands of Albertans,” Smith said, referring to two separate petition drives on either side of the issue.
A court ruling recently threw out a proposed referendum petition on Alberta separation that organizers said had gathered well over the required number of signatures to be approved as a future referendum question. Smith says her government will appeal the court decision, but added that the process could take months or years.
“This means that it is unlikely the courts will permit Elections Alberta to hold a binding provincial referendum on separation until this incorrect ruling is overturned or clarified,” Smith said.
“But there is another way to hear from Albertans while we wait for our legal appeal to be heard. That is why I am announcing today that I will be requesting our government add an additional question to the Oct. 19 referendum vote announced previously.”
The text of the question to be included with nine other questions in the referendum will read, “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?”
Court Ruling
Smith’s announcement comes in the wake of a May 13 court ruling by Alberta Court of King’s Bench Justice Shaina Leonard against Elections Alberta’s approval of a petition toward a referendum on Alberta independence. The court challenge was launched by a group of First Nations who said their treaty rights were being violated by the process. The judge found that the First Nations weren’t appropriately consulted on the issue.
Smith says since the new referendum question doesn’t directly trigger separation, and would only begin the legal process necessary to hold a binding referendum on the matter, the court’s ruling won’t apply to the province’s referendum question.
Stay Free Alberta, the group behind the petition drive, has appealed the court ruling. The group says it has collected more than 300,000 eligible signatures, far above the 177,732 required under provincial law for a petition to qualify as a referendum.
In her cited count of 700,000 signatures, Smith also referred to signatures collected by the pro-unity group Forever Canadian, launched by former Deputy Premier Thomas Lukaszuk, which says it has gathered 400,000 signatures in support of keeping Alberta within Canada.
Supporters wave flags in support of Mitch Sylvestre as he submits signatures for a separation referendum to Elections Alberta in Edmonton on May 4, 2026. The Canadian Press/Jason Franson
Lukaszuk spoke out against Smith’s decision to add the question about the separation issue to the referendum, saying on May 21 that his group “will fight for unity every step of the way.”
Alberta NDP Leader Naheed Nenshi posted an immediate video response to Smith’s address in the evening of May 21, condemning the premier’s announcement.
“I know a lot of us are nervous, anxious, scared even. How are we going to let these extremist folks who run the premier and think they run the province take away our country?” Nenshi said.
“We Albertans know better than anybody that we’ve always had disputes with the federal government of every stripe. We’ve always argued about different kinds of policy. But we sort those things out. That’s what you do in a democracy.”
Earlier this week, Alberta Finance Minister Nate Horner and Hospitals Minister Matt Jones announced they are stepping down from cabinet, saying they don’t plan on running in the next election. The two said they are resigning in order to support an orderly transition of power and give new ministers time to familiarize themselves with the portfolios prior to the next election.
Horner has previously stated that he opposes holding a referendum on Alberta separating from Canada, while Jones has commented that the UCP is not a separatist party and should be pushing for a unified Canada.
Mitch Sylvestre, one of the main organizers of the separation petition, shared Smith’s newly announced referendum question on social media, adding that “we have a lot of work to do folks.”
Meanwhile, Jeffrey Rath, another organizer who had been pushing for Smith to hold a direct referendum on separation following the court ruling, criticized Smith’s announcement, saying it’s merely a “referendum on having a referendum.”
Federal Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs Dominic LeBlanc said his government has taken note of Smith’s address, and remains “focused on building a stronger Canada for all.”
Smith said she has consistently said she wants Alberta to be a part of Canada, “while continuing to work each and every day to restore and strengthen provincial rights under the Canadian Constitution.”
“I am fiercely loyal to both Alberta and Canada, but I truly believe our country is so much stronger and more prosperous when we respect the rights of provinces and empower them to govern themselves with minimal federal interference,” she said.
The Alberta premier also attempted to persuade Albertans to vote with her to keep the province a part of Canada, referencing recent developments such as the agreement on an Alberta–B.C. oil pipeline with Ottawa, saying that “the tide has turned in our favour.”
“Now is not the time to give up hope in our country, not when we have fought so hard for so long and come so far,” she said. She also advised against using “division and demonization tactics” against those who favour separation.
“The vast majority of those advocating for separation love our province profoundly. Many are also proud Canadians, but have simply lost hope that their families can flourish within Canada. So, instead of attacking these loyal Albertans, let’s work together to restore hope in their country again,” she said.
October Referendum
The UCP government had announced previously that this fall’s referendum will include questions on whether the province should seek more control over immigration, and whether to limit some health care and education services only to citizens, permanent residents, and those with “Alberta-approved immigration status.”
The referendum will also include proposals to work with other provincial governments to abolish the “unelected federal Senate,” ask for Alberta to have more say in picking judges in the province, and give Alberta more authority to regulate provincially in areas where its power potentially overlaps with the federal government.