Sign NOW: Alberta independence leader warns of looming court challenge

Alberta’s independence movement is racing against a looming court injunction, with organizers demanding immediate signatures before a judge could shut down signature collections next month.

Alberta’s independence movement is racing against a looming court injunction, with organizers demanding immediate signatures before a judge could shut down signature collections next month.

Petition leader Mitch Sylvestre said it’s time for Alberta separatists to get “everybody that they know to sign up to our petition so that we can move forward and have a vote on independence in October.”

Sylvestre’s call for supporters to stop “procrastinating” comes as several First Nations sought a court injunction to stop the independence movement’s petition signature collection. Courts could intervene as early as April 7.

“What our concern is, is that if that injunction actually becomes reality on April 7, it’ll cut us all off from being able to collect signatures so that we can actually hold the vote on a referendum for independence,” said petition leader Mitch Sylvestre on Friday.

“So my goal is to make sure that we have all the signatures and more that were required before April 7, before the court date. We want to be sure that we have signatures to ensure that this goes forward. I don’t think we should take it for granted that we’re going to win this, in spite of the fact that I have assurances from some of our people that we should.”

“Our history, especially with everything that’s going on in Canada right now with government and the judiciary,” he said. “I have very little faith that we’ll actually win that. So, as a consequence of that, I’m simply asking, begging everybody to get to work. Get all of the signatures that you can get. Get the ones that you know that we have, and do not procrastinate any longer.”

Three Alberta First Nations are seeking a judicial review of Elections Alberta’s decision last month to approve a petition on the province’s separation from Canada.

The Siksika Nation, Piikani Nation, and Blood tribes want the Citizen’s Petition Act, under which the Chief Electoral Officer allowed the petition to proceed, declared unconstitutional.

The application claims the province violated the rule of law, democracy, and the protection of minority rights by failing its constitutional duty to consult them on the impact of a referendum.

Additionally, they claimed the Citizen Initiative Act, passed by Alberta’s UCP government, is inconsistent with sections 92 and 96 of the Canadian Constitution, which outline the responsibilities and law-making areas of provincial governments.

The First Nations are asking the courts to declare the separation petition “null and void” and for financial reimbursement for the cost of the court application.

The signature collection period was initially set to run from Jan. 3 to May 2, 2026, and requires 177,732 valid signatures to succeed.