The Canadian province of Alberta will hold an advisory referendum in October on whether its residents wish to remain in Canada, Premier Danielle Smith announced.
This consultation, which will not be legally binding, comes amid rising political tensions surrounding separatist claims in this oil-rich province. The vote will not trigger a secession process, but will focus on whether or not to initiate a process that could lead to a future official referendum on independence.
According to the provincial premier, the question put to voters will be whether Alberta should initiate the constitutional steps necessary to hold a binding referendum on separation from Canada. She justified this initiative by the need to clarify the will of the people.
This decision follows increased pressure from Alberta's separatist movements, which claim to have collected hundreds of thousands of signatures in support of an independence referendum. A recent provincial court ruling rejecting a separatist petition has also fueled the political debate.
The provincial government is also relying on the recommendations of a legislative committee, which suggested submitting the issue to an advisory vote rather than immediately launching a separation process.
This referendum would be a historic first: no Canadian province other than Quebec has ever held a public consultation on the question of the country's separation.
This announcement comes amid a sensitive national political context, as the federal government seeks to maintain national unity in the face of major economic and trade challenges, including relations with the United States and the renegotiation of key trade agreements.
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