Collecting signatures for separation vote doesn’t violate treaty; Alberta’s lawyers

Lawyers for the Alberta government say collecting signatures for a potential referendum on separation doesn’t violate treaty rights nor would holding a vote.

Neil Dobson has told an Edmonton courtroom that the need for consulting First Nations on the matter hasn’t emerged because the province isn’t taking action yet.

Multiple First Nations are challenging the constitutionality of the province’s citizen-initiated referendum process in a multi-day hearing this week.

Lawyers for the First Nations argue the referendum process and its use by separatists in their ongoing petition campaign to force a vote violates treaty rights, including the duty to consult.