Canada judge deals blow to Alberta separatist bid

A Canadian judge ruled Wednesday that officials in Alberta erred in approving a petition from separatists in the province, a decision the pro-independence camp immediately pledged to appeal.

Stay Free Alberta, a citizens group that wants the western oil-rich province to break away from Canada, was granted permission by Elections Alberta to collect signatures in support of an independence referendum.

In the provincial capital Edmonton last week, the group delivered boxes they said contained the signatures of more than 300,000 supporters, enough names to trigger an October referendum.

But an Alberta judge has ruled that the decision to approve the petition effort was flawed.

Canadian media quoted Justice Shaina Leonard as saying officials failed to consult with Indigenous groups in Alberta who signed treaties with the British crown before Canada became independent.

An independent Alberta could threaten those rights and Leonard ruled that the decision to approve the separatist petition without Indigenous consultation was "unreasonable," Canadian media reported.

Stay Free Alberta's top legal advisor, Jeffrey Rath, said the decision appears to "contain numerous violations of law."

"We disagree fundamentally with the decision," he said on X, adding: "We have been instructed to prepare and file the appropriate appellate documents."

While Wednesday's ruling marks a setback for Alberta's separatist camp, the group still has several paths towards securing a referendum.

Support for independence in Alberta stands at roughly 30 percent, a historic high.

But separatist and federalist leaders say that even if the independence side loses a prospective referendum, the process will have left Canadian politics permanently changed.

Advocates for an independent Alberta say climate-conscious policies backed by the Liberal government in Ottawa have stifled the provincial oil industry.

The group's leaders say they do not want a political union with the United States but are counting on support from President Donald Trump in helping break free from Canada.