Alberta Citizens Launch Urgent Petition to Stay in Canada Today

UPDATE: A new citizen-led initiative in Alberta has ignited urgency as the group Forever Canadian launched a petition to ensure the province remains a part of Canada. Just hours ago, members gathered in Old Strathcona, collecting signatures from residents to oppose any movement toward separation.

The petition aims to compel the provincial government to consider anti-separatism measures in future policies. John Lobe, a founding member of Forever Canadian, reported an overwhelming response: “The moment we originated [Forever Canadian], we literally were receiving hundreds of emails per day,” he said during the canvassing event on Saturday.

The backdrop of this movement is the rising separatist sentiment that followed the 2025 federal election. The Alberta Prosperity Project is currently pushing to place a secession question on the ballot, prompting chief electoral officer Gordon McClure to refer the matter to a judge for constitutional review.

Forever Canadian’s petition was officially authorized by Elections Canada on October 25, 2023, allowing them to gather signatures until October 28. The group needs to collect 293,967 signatures, which represents 10% of eligible voters from the recent provincial election, to present their petition to the legislature.

At the event, dissenters advocating for separation, holding a banner reading “Alberta Sovereignty Now!”, were present but did not deter the enthusiasm of Forever Canadian’s supporters. Thomas Lukaszuk, former Progressive Conservative Deputy Premier and organizer of the petition, emphasized, “This is 100% a foil to the loud and brash anti-separatist group. They do not speak for most Albertans.”

Speaking to CTV News Edmonton, Lukaszuk expressed his satisfaction with the diverse turnout: “This is not about politics… when it comes to being proud of being Canadian, we’re all on the same team.”

The urgency of this movement cannot be overstated. Lobe highlighted the potential impact on provincial governance: “Premier Smith will have a decision to make. She either adopts this as a government overarching policy and does away with any separatist talk or she brings it to a referendum.”

With the clock ticking down to the petition deadline, the sentiment among supporters is clear: Albertans overwhelmingly want to affirm their place in Canada. “This petition is an opportunity to prove that,” Lobe concluded.

As events unfold, all eyes will be on the provincial government to see how they respond to this grassroots movement and the implications it may hold for Alberta’s future within Canada. Follow this developing story for live updates and further reactions.