Alberta Prosperity Project unveils separation referendum question

The Alberta Prosperity Project has unveiled the question it plans to put to Albertans if a citizen-initiated referendum on separation from Canada proceeds.

Source: Wikimedia Commons

The Alberta Prosperity Project has unveiled the question it plans to put to Albertans if a citizen-initiated referendum on separation from Canada proceeds.

Constitutional lawyer and general counsel with the Alberta Prosperity Project, Jeffrey Rath, announced the proposed referendum question on Monday:

“Do you agree that the province of Alberta shall become a Sovereign Country and cease to be a province of Canada?”

The group is currently collecting signatures as part of a pre-registration effort required to submit a formal referendum petition with Elections Alberta. Due to technical issues, live updates on the signature count have been suspended.

However, as of Monday, the Alberta Prosperity Project has secured at least 240,000 signatures.

While the province has proposed legislation to lower the legal referendum signatures threshold from 600,000 to 177,000, the bill has yet to pass.

Therefore, the Alberta Prosperity Project still has its targets set on the 600,000 goal, although it will very likely be reduced to 177,000 shortly.

The Alberta Prosperity Project, a non-partisan group, outlined a road map to sovereignty.

First, the group aims to educate Albertans on the significance of sovereignty and the process for accomplishing it.

Next, it plans to collect 600,000 signatures within 90 days. Again, this is based on previous legislation and will likely soon change to 177,000 signatures within 120 days.

While progressing towards the referendum, the project said it would support political leaders who align with the goal of sovereignty. The key initiatives proposed by the group are establishing an Alberta Pension Plan and a provincial police force.

The project also calls for the province to have great authority over immigration management, tax collection, and employment insurance.

“These initiatives not only pave the way for sovereignty, but also reinforce Alberta’s capacity to manage its affairs effectively,” reads the project’s website.