August 7, 2025
RED FM News Desk
A special court hearing is set to begin today in Edmonton to examine the legality of a proposed Alberta referendum question that asks whether the province should become a sovereign nation.
The case was referred to the court last week by Alberta’s Chief Electoral Officer, Gordon McClure, who requested a judicial review to determine if the question violates the Constitution, including Indigenous treaty rights.
The proposed question reads: “Do you agree that the Province of Alberta shall become a sovereign country and cease to be a province in Canada?”
Premier Danielle Smith and Justice Minister Mickey Amery have both criticized the court referral, arguing the question should be allowed to proceed and only face judicial scrutiny if it passes with a majority vote.
The hearing’s process remains uncertain, and McClure’s office has declined to comment further, citing the ongoing legal proceedings.
Several parties, including the Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation, have expressed interest in making submissions during the hearing. A letter sent this week to Court of King’s Bench Justice Colin Feasby confirms that Amery also plans to make submissions.
Meanwhile, Mitch Sylvestre, an executive with the Alberta Prosperity Project—the group behind the proposed referendum—intends to apply to have the case dismissed before the review begins. A lawyer representing the group has not responded to media inquiries.
If the question is approved, Sylvestre would need to collect at least 177,000 signatures within a four-month period to have it placed on the ballot.
The provincial government’s letter to the court reiterates Justice Minister Amery’s stance that the question should be approved for public consideration.
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