August 26, 2025
RED FM News Desk
The Republican Party of Alberta is urging Premier Danielle Smith to skip the petition process and immediately commit to a binding referendum on Alberta’s independence.
In a statement released Monday, the party argued the province already has the authority to hold such a vote without requiring a formal petition.
“Albertans deserve clarity on their future, and delaying this decision only deepens the challenges we face,” the release said, blaming federal policies for rising debt, deficits, and the cost of living. The party also warned that if the current government does not act, voters may elect one that will.
Smith, however, dismissed the proposal during a media availability in Calgary.
“We’re not putting forward a question on the issue of independence,” she said. “We are putting forward questions on how we can be a bit more like Quebec — should we collect our own taxes, should we have more control over immigration, should we put the question of an Alberta pension plan to the people.”
The push comes as a Court of King’s Bench judge weighs whether a referendum question submitted by the Alberta Prosperity Project — asking if Alberta should leave Canada — violates the Constitution, including treaty rights. A decision is expected before the end of the year.
Meanwhile, another referendum drive is gaining steam, with more than 40 in-person signature-gathering locations operating across the province as of Tuesday.
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