The final question on the referendum ballot asks whether Alberta should move toward holding a binding referendum on separating from Canada.
10
Should Alberta remain a province of Canada, or should the Government of Alberta commence the legal process required under the Canadian Constitution to hold a binding provincial referendum on whether or not Alberta should separate from Canada?
The final question on the ballot asks whether or not the Government of Alberta should move forward with a binding separation referendum.
The final question on the ballot asks whether or not the Government of Alberta should move forward with a binding separation referendum.
Ballot Question 10 is not a clear-cut separation question that would trigger an obligation for the federal government to negotiate terms of Alberta secession. Rather it asks whether the provincial government should launch a process toward holding a future binding separation referendum.
Alberta became a province of Canada in 1905 when the federal government passed the Alberta Act. A province cannot unilaterally secede from Canada. However, secession of a province is legally possible by constitutional amendment under the Constitution Act, 1982.
If a majority of Albertans vote on a clear future question in favour of leaving Canada, this would impose obligations on the federal government to engage in discussions with Alberta about the potential act of secession as well as its possible terms.
