By Lisa Johnson and Jack Farell, The Canadian Press

Provincial Politics

Alberta bill aims to clear further obstacles to citizen-driven referendum questions

Dec 4, 2025 | 3:34 PM

The Alberta government is clearing more legal hurdles faced by citizens aiming to put referendum questions on a ballot, including the prospect of leaving Confederation.

If passed, a proposed bill would discontinue a court proceeding on a pro-separatist referendum question that is awaiting a judicial decision.

Justice Minister Mickey Amery says while the bill isn’t being put forward specifically because of that case, he says those behind the separation question would be permitted to reapply at no cost.

He says the legislation won’t affect a duelling petition certified earlier this week that seeks to make it official policy the province will not leave Canada.

Amery says he wants all Albertans to be able put any question to voters in the name of direct democracy, and to prevent one group from “piggybacking” on the referendum of another.

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But he says if those seeking independence believe they have support, this is their chance to prove it.

The bill would move more authority and responsibility to Amery over what questions are put to voters from the chief electoral officer.

Amery said he doesn’t believe it should be the officer’s responsibility to decide what people can or cannot ask, or to refer referendum questions to the courts.

“Moving the power to the ministry — and the amendments that are related to that particular issue — will still allow a process to proceed while its constitutionality is being assessed by government,” he said.

Under the bill, Amery can still refer questions to the court for more clarification.

“(But) a process will not be held up by the courts if it is referred for a question on constitutionality,” he said.

The legislation would also make other wide-ranging electoral changes, including with rules aimed at preventing long ballot protests and restricting new political party names.

Christina Gray, Alberta’s New Democrat House Leader, issued the following statement in response. It reads n part:

“Today, the UCP is choosing to once again shut down debate on bills that will have significant impacts on Albertans.

“Bill 11, which paves the way for American-style two-tier health care in Alberta, and Bill 9, which uses the notwithstanding clause to enforce a suite of anti-trans policies, will now have limited debate and likely be forced through the Legislature.

“The UCP passed time allocation motions on Thursday afternoon for Bill 9 and Bill 11, which gives them the power to end normal debate on these bills.

“This is an established pattern for this government—introducing highly contentious legislation with serious consequences for Albertans and then abusing its power to ram those bills through without proper debate or scrutiny.

“I shouldn’t have to remind the UCP that the Legislature exists for a reason: to debate, to test, and to challenge legislation, and to allow Albertans time to understand what new laws are being proposed.

“Albertans deserve better. They deserve a government that creates policies that can withstand normal debate in the Legislature. Instead, we have a government that shuts down debate on major bills in order to hide from accountability and get their way no matter what.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 4, 2025.

(With files from rdnewsNOW)