US EditionCalgary, Edmonton mayors call potential separatism referendum ‘dangerous’
- Alberta mayors Jyoti Gondek and Amarjeet Sohi warned on May 9, 2025, that a potential separation referendum risks harming local economies and social cohesion.
- Premier Danielle Smith's government introduced a bill lowering the citizen-led referendum signature requirement from over 600,000 to 177,000 and extending collection time from 90 to 120 days to address rising Western discontent.
- The Supreme Court ruled a province cannot unilaterally separate, and any vote to sever ties would lead to complex negotiations over issues like First Nation treaties and federal land ownership.
- Mayors Gondek and Sohi expressed that lowering the referendum threshold unsettles investors; Gondek described it as a needless diversion, while Sohi warned it would lead to a significant withdrawal of investment from their cities.
- Their opposition suggests that despite provincial-provincial tensions, municipalities have not sought separation, and a referendum could deepen divisions when unity and economic strength are needed.
40 Articles
40 Articles
'We're Canadians': Some Albertans divided about separation in cross-province checkup
EDMONTON — Row after row of Canadian flags fly high atop tall poles over manicured lawns in a southern Alberta town that's also home to the province's premier, her husband and their dog. Kathleen Sokvitne has lived on the street in High River, Alta.
Edmonton, Calgary mayors call potential separatism referendum ‘dangerous’
Calgary — Alberta's two big-city mayors say a separation referendum would be "devastating" to their local economies and is a needless distraction during a period in which the country should be focused on unity.
Rushed: Canada's richest province will hold a referendum on secession: EADaily
EADaily, May 9th, 2025. The prime minister of Alberta, one of the richest Canadian provinces due to its natural resources, especially oil and natural gas, said on Monday that he would hold a referendum on secession from Canada next year if a petition initiated by citizens gets the required number of signatures…
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