Canadian Separatists Submit Petition, Seek Referendum on Alberta Independence
Separatists in Canada's Alberta province today submitted boxes of documents, claiming over 300,000 supporters' signatures, enough to force an independence referendum in the oil-rich province. Leader Mitch Sylvestre asserts Alberta's conservative values differ from the Canadian federal government, raising concerns about impacts on the oil industry.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: May 5, 2026 at 11:21
- 🔍 Collected: May 5, 2026 at 11:31 (10 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: May 5, 2026 at 11:37 (5 min after Collected)
Central News Agency
(Central News Agency, Edmonton, May 4, Comprehensive Foreign Report) Separatists in Canada's Alberta province today submitted several boxes of documents to election officials, claiming to contain over 300,000 supporters' signatures, a sufficient number to compel an independence referendum in the oil-rich province.
Hundreds of boisterous crowds waved blue provincial flags today, and cheers erupted as separatist leader Mitch Sylvestre delivered the petition to Elections Alberta.
Sylvestre told AFP: "We are different from the rest of Canada. We are 100% conservative. We are being governed by a group of Liberals whose ideas are different from ours."
He said, "They are trying to shut down our industry," referring to Alberta's lucrative oil industry.
In this western province of 5 million people, the pro-independence camp has been on the fringes for decades, but the movement has gained momentum in recent months, closer than ever to initiating a referendum.
Polls show separatist support at around 30%, but even if the federalist side wins in a possible referendum, leaders on both sides say the process has permanently changed Canada.
Federalist activist and former Alberta Deputy Premier Thomas Lukaszuk is deeply concerned about this. Standing outside the provincial parliament building, he told AFP that he now finds it difficult to look directly at the blue provincial flag fluttering behind him, claiming that the flag has been appropriated by separatists.
Lukaszuk said: "It represents something that most Albertans and Canadians do not agree with. This is an act of treason." He came to Canada in his childhood with his family, escaping communist Poland.
Lukaszuk, who is leading the "Forever Canadian" movement in Alberta, said the ongoing separatist movement has been aided by right-wing Premier Danielle Smith, who seeks closer ties with former U.S. President Donald Trump's Republican Party.
Lukaszuk pointed out that tacit support from Washington, including several meetings with the State Department, has also helped the separatist movement.
He told AFP: "These separatists are not elected officials. They are just Canadian citizens residing in Alberta, but they actually formed a delegation and were received by the highest levels of the U.S. government. This must be a very big encouragement for them."
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent also sparked Canadian anger this January when he stated that Alberta and the U.S. would be "a match made in heaven." (Compiled by Li Peishan) 1150505
Choose to stand with facts, every sponsorship you make is a force to protect press freedom.
Download the Central News Agency "First-hand News" APP to grasp the latest news instantly.
The text, images, and videos on this website may not be reproduced, broadcast, transmitted, or used without authorization.
(Central News Agency, Edmonton, May 4, Comprehensive Foreign Report) Separatists in Canada's Alberta province today submitted several boxes of documents to election officials, claiming to contain over 300,000 supporters' signatures, a sufficient number to compel an independence referendum in the oil-rich province.
Hundreds of boisterous crowds waved blue provincial flags today, and cheers erupted as separatist leader Mitch Sylvestre delivered the petition to Elections Alberta.
Sylvestre told AFP: "We are different from the rest of Canada. We are 100% conservative. We are being governed by a group of Liberals whose ideas are different from ours."
He said, "They are trying to shut down our industry," referring to Alberta's lucrative oil industry.
In this western province of 5 million people, the pro-independence camp has been on the fringes for decades, but the movement has gained momentum in recent months, closer than ever to initiating a referendum.
Polls show separatist support at around 30%, but even if the federalist side wins in a possible referendum, leaders on both sides say the process has permanently changed Canada.
Federalist activist and former Alberta Deputy Premier Thomas Lukaszuk is deeply concerned about this. Standing outside the provincial parliament building, he told AFP that he now finds it difficult to look directly at the blue provincial flag fluttering behind him, claiming that the flag has been appropriated by separatists.
Lukaszuk said: "It represents something that most Albertans and Canadians do not agree with. This is an act of treason." He came to Canada in his childhood with his family, escaping communist Poland.
Lukaszuk, who is leading the "Forever Canadian" movement in Alberta, said the ongoing separatist movement has been aided by right-wing Premier Danielle Smith, who seeks closer ties with former U.S. President Donald Trump's Republican Party.
Lukaszuk pointed out that tacit support from Washington, including several meetings with the State Department, has also helped the separatist movement.
He told AFP: "These separatists are not elected officials. They are just Canadian citizens residing in Alberta, but they actually formed a delegation and were received by the highest levels of the U.S. government. This must be a very big encouragement for them."
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent also sparked Canadian anger this January when he stated that Alberta and the U.S. would be "a match made in heaven." (Compiled by Li Peishan) 1150505
Choose to stand with facts, every sponsorship you make is a force to protect press freedom.
Download the Central News Agency "First-hand News" APP to grasp the latest news instantly.
The text, images, and videos on this website may not be reproduced, broadcast, transmitted, or used without authorization.