Alberta to vote on October 19 on process of leaving Canada
Residents of the Canadian province of Alberta will vote on October 19 on whether the province should remain part of Canada or whether the government should begin a legal process to hold a binding referendum on secession. The vote will not be binding, ABC News Australia reports.
Supporters of independence believe that the oil- and gas-rich province contributes too much money to the federal budget. According to estimates by the conservative Fraser Institute, the difference between the funds Alberta transferred to the federal government and received from it in the 2007/08–2026/27 fiscal years exceeded 300 billion Canadian dollars.
Christopher Scott, founder of the separatist group Let’s Talk Alberta, believes that an independent Alberta could have better prospects than as part of the federation. According to some polls, support for secession has risen to 30%, although most Albertans, according to surveys, still support keeping the province within Canada.
The position of the authorities and opponents of secession
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith does not personally support secession, but has said that residents should have a democratic opportunity to express their position. At the same time, she referred to a court ruling that, according to her, did not allow a direct question on independence to be put to a vote.
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Former provincial deputy premier Thomas Lukaszuk, who leads the Forever Canadian group, is holding a “unity tour” across Alberta and calling for the province to remain part of Canada. He compared the situation to the 2016 Brexit referendum, when the United Kingdom voted to leave the European Union.
Indigenous peoples’ reaction and the discussion about the United States
The debate over separatism is causing concern among Indigenous leaders. Piikani Nation Chief Troy Knowlton said that secession could affect Indigenous treaty rights concluded with the Crown, as well as deepen divisions and racism in the province. Earlier this year, Indigenous groups secured a court recognition of the Alberta authorities’ obligation to consult with them before advancing the separatist petition.
Three meetings between Alberta separatists and U.S. State Department officials also drew additional criticism. The premier of neighboring British Columbia, David Eby, condemned these contacts. More than 240,000 people also signed a petition calling for U.S. Ambassador to Canada Pete Hoekstra to be declared persona non grata, accusing him of undermining relations between the two countries and normalizing Donald Trump’s statements about Canada as the “51st state.”
