[Wolven]

Originally Posted by The Big Chill

What’s the likelihood of it going to a referendum now? Isn’t that exactly what we would have want to avoided?

Pretty low chance.

This petition went through as a "Legislative / policy" petition, which means it needs to be reviewed by the government and voted on in the legislature. Here is what is detailed on the Alberta elections website.

Legislative Proposal

1. The Speaker of the Legislative Assembly shall lay the proposal before the Legislative Assembly if it is then sitting, or if it is not then sitting, within 15 days after the commencement of the next sitting.
2. Within 10 sitting days, the Government shall bring forward a motion to have the proposal referred to a committee of the Legislative Assembly.
3. Within 90 days if the Assembly is sitting, or within 15 days after the commencement of the next sitting, the committee may either table a report recommending that a bill be introduced at the earliest practicable opportunity or table a report recommending the Chief Electoral Officer hold an initiative vote.
4. If the Legislative Assembly concurs with the introduction of a bill, the Government shall introduce the bill at the earliest practicable opportunity.

Policy Proposal

1. The Speaker of the Legislative Assembly shall lay the proposal before the Legislative Assembly if it is then sitting, or if it is not then sitting, within 15 days after the commencement of the next sitting.
2. Within 10 sitting days, the Government shall bring forward a motion to have the proposal referred to a committee of the Legislative Assembly.
3. Within 90 days if the Assembly is sitting, or within 15 days after the commencement of the next sitting, the committee may either table a report with respect to the policy proposal at the earliest practicable opportunity or table a report recommending the policy proposal be referred to the Lieutenant Governor in Council for the purpose of a referendum.
4. A referendum must be held on or before the fixed date of the next provincial general election. If that date is less than one year after the date the recommendation is tabled, the referendum must be held before the provincial general election following the next provincial general election.