Alberta Group Can Start Collecting Signatures for Separation Referendum: Elections Alberta

The Canadian Press/Adrian WyldElections Alberta says a group supporting Alberta independence can start collecting signatures to hold an upcoming referendum on Alberta separating from Canada.The announcement comes several weeks after the province’s non-partisan electoral body approved a petition question from the Alberta Prosperity Project (APP) on whether or not Alberta should become an independent nation. The APP will now have from Jan. 3 to May 2 to collect 177,732 signatures in order for a referendum to be held.The petition question for which signatures will be being gathered asks, “Do you agree that the province of Alberta should cease to be a part of Canada to become an independent state?”APP CEO Mitch Sylvestre has previously stated that a referendum is required because of Ottawa’s regulations on oil and gas development in Alberta as well as the province’s low chances of seeing a significant change at the federal level that are more favourable to its interests.