Alberta separatists looking to rally snowbird supporters in Arizona this weekend

Foot soldiers of Alberta’s separatist movement are making their way south of the border again.

This time, they’re looking to rally Albertan snowbirds in Yuma, Ariz., to sign their petition aimed at triggering a referendum.

Wednesday on X, Stay Free Alberta posted about its “Alberta referendum signing event” set for Feb. 21.

It’ll take place at Martha’s Gardens date farm from noon to 4 p.m.

There, Albertans holed up in hotter terrain will be able to sign their support for a ballot stating, “Do you agree that the Province of Alberta should cease to be part of Canada to become an independent state?”

“With the petition drive in full swing,” the X post said, “don’t miss your chance to add your voice from the sunny south!”

Former Alberta premier Jason Kenney stated his distaste for the event, also Wednesday on X.

“For generations, Albertans have made astonishing sacrifices to build Canada, to defend it, and even to die for our country,” he wrote, in part.

“But some rich Canadians who spend half the year sunning themselves in Arizona are going to take a break from their regular golf-and-happy-hour routine to drop by and sign a petition, in a foreign land, to tear apart the country built by their ancestors.

“For shame.”

According to Elections Alberta, such an event is all good.

“The legislation does not prohibit signature collection outside of Alberta,” Elections Alberta told CTV News Calgary in a statement.

“The canvassers collecting the signatures must be registered with Elections Alberta and have their canvasser ID with them at the time of signature collection.

“Anyone signing the petition must be a Canadian citizen over the age of 18 and ordinarily resident in Alberta.”

Stay Free Alberta’s post on X laid out the criteria.

CTV News Calgary reached out to Stay Free Alberta but had not heard back at the time of this writing.

Trevor Harrison assumes there are many Albertans in Arizona right now.

And the retired political science professor at the University of Lethbridge says the ones who are might lean a certain way.

“Maybe this is a worthwhile pond to fish in,” he said.

“I’m not convinced it will produce a lot of signatures, though.”

The petition needs 177,732 signatures to be successful.

Stay Free Alberta has 120 days to get those signatures, and the countdown began Jan. 3, making the deadline May 2.

Stay Free Alberta’s X post also asked eligible supporters to set up similar events elsewhere outside the province.