Premier Supports Sovereign Alberta Within United Canada, Schrödinger’s Confederation Still Alive

Premier Danielle Smith insists she has not signed the petition to yank Alberta out of Confederation, clarifying Thursday in Calgary that she’s merely “watching” as nearly 178,000 signatures attempt to materialize before May like a prairie mirage.

The referendum push, led by Stay Free Alberta, is now in its second month, while Smith maintains she supports a “sovereign Alberta within a united Canada,” a phrase that continues to do heavy lifting. If the petition succeeds, she said, the government will discuss “prioritizing” a vote, presumably somewhere between the budget and pothole season.

Cabinet ministers have lined up to confirm they, too, have not signed. Education Minister Demetrios Nicolaides and Environment Minister Grant Hunter both declined to put pen to parchment, while Sport Minister Andrew Boitchenko and Social Services Minister Jason Nixon previously did the same.

Opposition Leader Naheed Nenshi and former federal Liberal leader Stephane Dion have urged clarity. For now, Alberta remains a proud member of Canada, in good standing, pending paperwork.

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