Will Danielle Smith’s secession referendum question get around an Alberta judge’s ruling?
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith plans to include a secession question on the province's referendum ballot despite a recent court ruling against a similar proposal. Legal experts suggest her new approach may be legally sound, although it could invite further legal challenges. The question will ask whether Alberta should begin the legal process for a binding referendum on separation from Canada.
- ▪Danielle Smith's government intends to include a separation question in the upcoming referendum under the Referendum Act.
- ▪A recent court ruling stated that the previous secession question was not approved due to a failure to consult Indigenous groups.
- ▪Legal experts note that the new question may still violate the spirit of the court ruling but appears to be legally viable.
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| Original publisher | The Globe and Mail |
| Canonical URL | https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/alberta/article-danielle-smith-secession-referendum-question-judge-ruling/ |
| Publication time | Fri, 22 May 2026 22:49:03 +0000 |
| Retrieval time | 2026-05-22T22:52:03.034Z |
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Opening excerpt (first ~120 words) tap to expand
Open this photo in gallery:Alberta separatists rally outside the offices of Elections Alberta in Edmonton earlier this month.Todd Korol/ReutersShareSave for laterPlease log in to bookmark this story.Log InCreate Free AccountAlberta Premier Danielle Smith plans to put a secession question on the province’s referendum ballot in October. Her move skirts a recent court ruling that derailed a similar question. Legal experts say the new approach appears viable.What is happening? A group in Alberta wanted the province to include a question on separating from Canada in a referendum where the province had its own list of questions on issues such as immigration. The group’s push happened under the province’s Citizen Initiative Act.
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