A local team from Stay Free Alberta, the grassroots arm of the Alberta independence movement, canvassed in Beaumont, Alberta, this month and collected about 40 signatures from residents in support of a provincial independence vote. The group is asking residents if they agree that the province should leave Canada to become its own independent state. This session is one of many grassroots events taking place as the movement enters its final weeks of signature collection.
The petition was officially issued by Elections Alberta on January 2, 2026, and is open for signing until May 2, 2026. Organizers must gather 177,732 signatures, which is 10 per cent of the total votes from the 2023 provincial election, to trigger a review by the provincial government. While a successful petition would not automatically mandate a referendum, it represents a critical step toward bringing the independence question to a public vote.
These signing sessions are organized as daily pop-up events by Stay Free Alberta, which has over 2,000 registered canvassers working across the province. Mitch Sylvestre, the CEO of the Alberta Prosperity Project, is leading the campaign to bring the independence question to a public vote. In Beaumont, canvassers reported a mix of strong support from some community members and opposition from others.
The effort was made possible after the provincial government passed Bill 14 in December 2025, a law that allows these types of petitions to proceed without a prior constitutional review. While supporters are active in local communities, recent provincial polling from March 2026 indicates that about 21 per cent of Albertans support separation while 70 per cent remain opposed. The movement has become highly visible with supporters often wearing blue caps reading “The Republic of Alberta” at large rallies.
Opposition to the independence push has also grown, with a separate petition called Forever Canadian collecting more than 450,000 signatures in support of staying part of Canada. First Nations leaders from Treaty 6, 7, and 8 have also stated their opposition, noting that separation would break constitutional treaty promises. The final results of the signature drive will be determined after the collection period ends in May 2026.
