Separatists’ referendum campaign carries on in Alberta — and Arizona
A group that is looking to trigger a referendum on the future of Alberta in Canada is taking its petition south of the border this weekend. The aim is to have Albertans who are wintering in Arizona add their names to the petition. Here’s what to know about the event, and the status of the petition campaign.
What is the Arizona event?
On Wednesday, the Alberta Prosperity Project through the group Stay Free Alberta announced an event in Yuma, Arizona. Over a backdrop of cacti, oil pumpjacks and a flag melding those of Alberta and Arizona, it advertises an event at a date farm called Martha’s Gardens in Yuma.
“Don’t miss your chance to add your voice from the sunny south,” it says. “Bring your valid proof of Alberta residency & identity.” It also adds: “Are you going somewhere out of Alberta where you’ll find lots of Albertans? Become a canvasser to sign them up abroad.”
Calling all Alberta Snowbirds in Yuma, Arizona! ❄️????
— stayfreealberta (@stayfreealberta) February 18, 2026
With the petition drive in full swing (launched Jan 3, 2026, running until ~May 2), don't miss your chance to add your voice from the sunny south! Join us for a petition signing event supporting the Alberta Independence… pic.twitter.com/QRPSJkh90n
What does the petition say?
A website for the group says: “This Citizens’ Initiative Petition seeks to bring a referendum on Alberta Independence to the people of Alberta.”
The question, if the referendum goes ahead: “Do you agree that the Province of Alberta should cease to be a part of Canada to become an independent state?”
How does this differ from the referendum that the premier just announced?
On Thursday, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith said she wants Albertans to vote on nine questions in a referendum to be held on Oct. 19. The questions are grouped into immigration and constitutional questions.
On the immigration side, it would ask about support for the province taking more control over immigration, limiting access to provincially funded programs for new arrivals, and requiring proof of citizenship to vote in provincial elections.
On the constitutional side, it would ask about support for working with other provinces to allow them to select judges for provincial courts; to abolish the Senate; to allow provinces to opt out of certain federal programs that overlap with provincial jurisdiction without a financial penalty; and to give provincial laws priority over federal laws when they conflict?
What is the status of the petition?
The application for the petition was approved on Dec. 22, and the petition was issued on Jan. 2, with collection of signatures beginning the next day. The group has until May 2 to gather at least 177,732 names, representing 10 per cent of the total number of votes cast in the last provincial general election.
There is no indication yet as to how many names have been gathered. However, a similar petition by the anti-separatist group Alberta Forever Canada was issued on July 30, and subsequently gathered more than 400,000 signatures. It’s question: “Do you agree that Alberta should remain in Canada?”
What are people saying about the Arizona event?
Jason Kenney, the previous premier of Alberta, posted the event notice to X and wrote: “For generations Albertans have made astonishing sacrifices to build Canada, to defend it, and even to die for our country as the truth North strong and free. But some rich Canadians who spend half the year sunning themselves in Arizona are going to take a break from their regular golf-and-happy-hour routine to drop by and sign a petition, in a foreign land, to tear apart the country built by their ancestors. For shame.”
For generations Albertans have made astonishing sacrifices to build Canada, to defend it, and even to die for our country as the truth North strong and free.
— Jason Kenney ???????????????? (@jkenney) February 18, 2026
But some rich Canadians who spend half the year sunning themselves in Arizona are going to take a break from their… pic.twitter.com/PrYzab2aq9
Smith, meanwhile, has not signed the petition and does not intend to.
“I believe that a citizen-initiated process is meant for citizens, and so I’m watching all of the petition campaigns that are out there,” she said at an event last week . “If any of them get the requisite number of signatures, then we’ll have to talk about prioritizing when we would have a referendum on them.”
What has been the result of recent Alberta referendums?
In 2021, two referendums were held in Alberta. One asked: “Should section 36(2) of the Constitution Act, 1982 – Parliament and the government of Canada’s commitment to the principle of making equalization payments – be removed from the constitution?”
Roughly one third of the province’s electors voted, and 61.7 per cent said yes. However, the government of Canada has not changed the Act.
The other question — “Do you want Alberta to adopt year-round Daylight Saving Time, which is summer hours, eliminating the need to change our clocks twice a year?”
A similar number of votes were cast, with 49.8 per cent voting yes and 50.2 per cent no. However, no change was made, though Saskatchewan, the next province to the east, continues its practice of remaining on standard time year-round.
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