Sturgeon Lake Cree Nation asks court to halt Alberta independence petition

A northern Alberta First Nation has launched court action aimed at pausing a citizen-led petition that could trigger a referendum on Alberta leaving Canada.

The Sturgeon Lake Cree Nation has filed a statement of claim in the Alberta Court of King’s Bench seeking an urgent interim injunction to stop the petition process while the case is heard.

According to reporting on the claim, the legal action names the Alberta Government, the Federal Government, and Alberta’s Chief Electoral Officer.

Elections Alberta issued the petition on Friday, 2 January 2026, for the referendum proposal titled “A Referendum Relating to Alberta Independence”.

The petition asks: “Do you agree that the Province of Alberta should cease to be a part of Canada to become an independent state?”

Elections Alberta set a 120‑day signature collection period from Saturday, 3 January to Saturday, 2 May, and said 177,732 valid signatures are required for a successful petition.

In its statement, Sturgeon Lake Cree Nation said: “No separation of Alberta from Canada can occur without First Nation consent. This is Treaty land. This is the law.”

The First Nation argues the petition’s advance would violate Treaty No. 8 rights, and says any move toward secession cannot proceed without First Nations consent.

Elections Alberta says only registered canvassers may collect signatures, and signatures must be gathered on official petition signature sheets issued by Elections Alberta, with canvassers required to verify identification for each signer.

The court challenge comes after Alberta’s Bill 14 (Justice Statutes Amendment Act) made changes to citizen‑initiative rules, including removing requirements from the Citizen Initiative Act that proposals not contravene sections 1 to 35.1 of the Constitution Act, 1982, according to a Government of Alberta fact sheet.

Alberta Justice Minister Mickey Amery’s office has said the government recognises and honours treaty rights, but declined further comment because the matter is before the courts.

A previous separation proposal was found unconstitutional in December by Justice Colin C.J. Feasby of the Alberta Court of King’s Bench, in reporting on that earlier case.