Alberta premier's constitutional affairs lead supports separatist petition

The Alberta Legislature in Edmonton, on Thursday Oct. 31, 2024.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson

Premier Danielle Smith’s parliamentary secretary for constitutional affairs is encouraging Albertans to sign a petition that calls for a vote on separation from Canada.

Jason Stephan, a United Conservative Party legislature member, penned his opinion, punctuated with capital letters, for the online conservative media outlet Western Standard on Friday.

In it, Stephan argues that signing the petition to have a referendum on separation is different from a referendum vote.

“Signing the petition supports your right to vote and decide on the objective merits, yes or no,” he says.

“I invite Albertans to act and sign the petition, and invite all who love freedom and prosperity to do the same.”

Stephan says a referendum is about holding Ottawa accountable, citing “stupid laws and policies” that damage economic prosperity and “erode Albertans’ freedoms in favour of a nanny state.”

Smith and some of her cabinet ministers, when questioned about whether they signed or stand by the petition, have said they support a sovereign Alberta within a united Canada but also believe in direct democracy.

The government has changed the law multiple times, removing legal hurdles for a separatist question to make its way onto a ballot. Critics, including the Opposition NDP, say it’s about tilting the scales against federalists in the province.

NDP deputy leader Rakhi Pancholi has also accused United Conservatives of dragging their feet by not yet convening a legislature committee tasked with addressing a successful anti-separatist petition, confirmed by Elections Alberta late last year.

The current sitting is scheduled to rise in May, leaving questions about what Albertans will be asked to vote on in the fall.

Smith has said she will put nine questions on a referendum for Oct. 19, including proposals to restrict immigration to the province and push for constitutional changes. A separation question remains up in the air.

The movement for a vote on Alberta becoming its own country is finishing its third month of collecting signatures. The group behind it, Stay Free Alberta, has until early May to get nearly 178,000 signatures.

In his opinion piece, Stephan doesn’t express support for a sovereign Alberta within a united Canada.

He says the federal government’s “hostile” treatment of Alberta won’t change under the current constitutional arrangement.

Stephan points to the premier’s inroads with Ottawa, including an agreement with Prime Minister Mark Carney’s Liberals to roll back some environmental measures in an effort to build a West Coast pipeline, part of a group of federal laws Smith has dubbed “nine bad laws.”

He says those reversals could be backtracked at any time and points to the federal equalization program that has long been the target of complaints from many Albertans, calling it a “de facto socialist welfare program.”

“There is another class of bad laws, the LOOTING laws that will NEVER be rolled back,” he writes.

The UCP caucus declined an interview request with Stephan, and a spokesperson said his column stands.

Pancholi, deputy to NDP Leader Naheed Nenshi, said in a statement that Smith, her government and her caucus have repeatedly shown their “true colours” and that there are separatists in the elected UCP caucus.

“Today’s statement from MLA Jason Stephan confirms it,” Pancholi said.

She called for Smith to remove Stephan and any others who support separatism from caucus immediately and to denounce her parliamentary secretary’s position.

Sam Blackett, a spokesperson for Smith, said the premier’s goal entails keeping Alberta in Canada while fighting against harmful federal policies. 

“Individual MLAs are welcome to differ in their personal opinions, but the position of the government and caucus are clear,” he said.

Blackett repeated that the UCP believes the NDP is afraid of direct democracy and that Nenshi is fear-mongering.

“It’s shameful and irresponsible,” Blackett said.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 27, 2026.

Lisa Johnson