Forever Canadian Petition Support (Alberta Politics)

[iggy_oi]

Originally Posted by Torture

If it's true there's 8,000 canvasers each person only needs what, 30-40 signatures? That seems pretty doable.

They should be aiming for a much higher number than the bare minimum. Having so many likely inexperienced volunteers combined with minimal organization there’s almost certainly going to be issues with spoiled petitions due to them being filled out incorrectly, people signing multiple petitions, etc which will alter the final counts.

They should be aiming for closer to 15-20% to give themselves a little more certainty of outcome.

[Robbob]

Considering they have to October, I do think it helps send a message if you turn in double the signatures in half the time.

[firebug]

I live out by Priddis but will be signing at some point - I'll keep my eye out on their schedule.

[Jaws]

I was confused at what the outcome of a successful petition would be. I thought that a successful Forever Canadian petition would mean that there would be a referendum held with the question: "Do you agree that Alberta should remain in Canada?" But then I read a CTV article that mentioned: "The group’s goal is to persuade the provincial government to adopt a formal policy rejecting separatism without requiring a referendum."

So I did some research. Here is an explanation of the Citizen Initiative petitions:

Alberta has two kinds of citizen petitions under the Citizen Initiative Act:

• Policy petitions → go to cabinet/legislature, but don’t automatically trigger a referendum.
• Constitutional petitions → if successful, must go to a province-wide referendum.

Right now there are two competing petitions about Alberta’s future in Canada (one already collecting signatures, one still in court review):

1. Forever Canadian petition (pro-Canada) - collecting signatures now

• Question: “Do you agree that Alberta should remain in Canada?”
  
• Organized by: former MLA Thomas Lukaszuk and others.
  
• Type: Policy petition.
  
• Requirement: ~294,000 valid signatures (old rules - 10% of all registered voters) in 90 days. Deadline: Oct 28, 2025.
  
• If successful: Once Elections Alberta verifies enough signatures, the petition goes to cabinet. By law, cabinet must refer it to a legislative committee. The committee studies it and issues a report with recommendations. For example, it may recommend that the petition be debated in the legislature, that a referendum be held, or that no further action be taken. Cabinet then decides how to respond to the report. Important note: A referendum is not automatically triggered.

2. Alberta Prosperity Project petition (pro-separation) - under court review, not yet collecting signatures

• Question: “Do you agree that the Province of Alberta shall become a sovereign country and cease to be a province in Canada?”
  
• Organized by: the Alberta Prosperity Project.
  
• Type: Constitutional petition.
  
• Requirement: ~178,000 valid signatures (new rules - 10% of voters from the 2023 election) in 120 days.
  
• If successful: If Elections Alberta verifies enough signatures, the petition must by law trigger a province-wide referendum. Unlike a policy petition, cabinet has no discretion to substitute a legislative debate or let it die in committee.
  
• Current status: filed July 4, 2025, but still under review at the Court of King’s Bench to check if the question is valid. Hearing scheduled for Nov 2025. They can’t collect signatures until that’s resolved.

So, if the Forever Canadian petition is successful in collecting enough signatures, the best case scenario they are hoping for would be:

• Cabinet refers petition to a legislative committee
• The committee recommends debating/voting on the proposal in the Assembly
• Cabinet could table a motion worded along the petition’s question: “Do you agree that Alberta should remain in Canada?”
• MLAs would vote, and if it passed, the legislature would officially be on record affirming Alberta’s place in Canada.
• This outcome gives petitioners a clear “win” without the cost and risk of a referendum.

I think there would be a lot of pressure on the UCP to respond to a successful Forever Canadian petition in this way. But I don't have faith that they would do the right thing.

[Fuzz]

It sounds like it would force politicians to put on record if they would like to leave. That's devastating in many ridings. I think they can only have one on the same issue as well, so it blocks the other one.

[edslunch]

I can see the UCP saying that the policy petition is not binding and only involves MLAs, so the other one should still proceed ‘to let the people decide’.

[Smartcar]

If anyone is downtown/beltine looking to sign I have my credentials, you can sign at my business (17th Ave and Macleod) I’m usually there 10-5:30 weekdays - if I’m there I can come out and get your signature, you don’t even have to get out of your car ��

PM me for details.

[WideReceiver]

Well top 294,000 easily. Our groups are collecting thousands every day.

Lukaszuk said yesterday we have 2,500 collectors and 5,000 volunteers. I don’t know what the non-collector volunteers are doing. I haven’t seen any.

[CroFlames]

If you are a separatist, just go live in the dang States already.

[Wolven]

Originally Posted by WideReceiver

Well top 294,000 easily. Our groups are collecting thousands every day.

Lukaszuk said yesterday we have 2,500 collectors and 5,000 volunteers. I don’t know what the non-collector volunteers are doing. I haven’t seen any.

Maybe the non-collectors are reviewing signatures to ensure compliance before submitting? That way they can try and catch bad actors before they declare victory and move to the next step in the process.

[PsYcNeT]

Any coordinated signature locations this week? Missed my chance over the weekend.

[Wolven]

Originally Posted by PsYcNeT

Any coordinated signature locations this week? Missed my chance over the weekend.

Thomas posted a couple on his bluesky.

3 hours ago he posted that there is a table set up in front of city hall.
Aug 18 = Egert's Park (NW) from 3-6pm
Aug 19 = Copperfield Community Centre (SE) from 5-7pm

With how often he is posting he must have a few volunteers just doing social media on bluesky.

[Cowboy89]

Originally Posted by Wolven

Thomas posted a couple on his bluesky.

3 hours ago he posted that there is a table set up in front of city hall.
Aug 18 = Egert's Park (NW) from 3-6pm
Aug 19 = Copperfield Community Centre (SE) from 5-7pm

With how often he is posting he must have a few volunteers just doing social media on bluesky.

Anyone know if they are still in front of city hall?

[Fuzz]

Originally Posted by Cowboy89

Anyone know if they are still in front of city hall?

Didn't you vote UCP? Does this mean you regret voting for a party that is actively working to tear our country apart, and will support the NDP next election, who are the only alternative able to block that?

[iggy_oi]

Originally Posted by Fuzz

Didn't you vote UCP? Does this mean you regret voting for a party that is actively working to tear our country apart, and will support the NDP next election, who are the only alternative able to block that?

Crapping on their supporters for being opposed to some of their policies isn’t helpful man

[Fuzz]

It's not like this #### wasn't known before the last election.


Sorry, but I'm just ####ing done with people who can't be bothered to understand what they are voting for.

[iggy_oi]

Originally Posted by Fuzz

It's not like this #### wasn't known before the last election.


Sorry, but I'm just ####ing done with people who can't be bothered to understand what they are voting for.

I prefer to look at it as they’re actively failing to tear our country apart. This is all a distraction tactic and the things they’re trying to distract us from should be the focus. That being said I’ve always found that focusing on what unites people instead of dividing them is the path to change.

[Cowboy89]

Originally Posted by Fuzz

Didn't you vote UCP? Does this mean you regret voting for a party that is actively working to tear our country apart, and will support the NDP next election, who are the only alternative able to block that?

I lived in the United States the time of the last provincial election, so no, I didn’t vote UCP in the last election.

In any case, I’m not a separatist or a 51st statist, so why are we gatekeeping being Canadian?

[rotten42]

I signed yesterday out-front city hall.

[Yamer]

Originally Posted by Fuzz

It's not like this #### wasn't known before the last election.


Sorry, but I'm just ####ing done with people who can't be bothered to understand what they are voting for.

The problem you're creating for yourself is that describes an overwhelming amount of the population.