Alberta's Fight for Freedom: Courts Block the Vote, But the People Shall Prevail

Alberta Independence

Posted on December 5, 2025 | By Jason LaFace

Folks, if you've been following the slow-motion trainwreck that is Ottawa's stranglehold on our great province, today's news from the Court of King's Bench should light a fire under every red-blooded Albertan. Justice Colin Feasby, in a ruling that's as predictable as a federal carbon tax hike, has deemed the Alberta Prosperity Project's (APP) citizen-initiated referendum question unconstitutional.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/alberta-judge-proposed-referendum-unconstitutional-9.7004982

The question? Simple, straightforward, and long overdue: "Do you agree that the Province of Alberta shall become a sovereign country and cease to be a province in Canada?"

https://albertaprosperityproject.com/alberta-prosperity-project-articles/app-declares-its-game-on-as-bill-14-clears-path-for-alberta-sovereignty-referendum/

This isn't just a slap on the wrist to grassroots democracy—it's a full-throated affirmation of the elite status quo, where unelected judges and federal bureaucrats get to veto the will of the people before we've even had a chance to speak. Conservative values have always championed individual liberty, fiscal responsibility, and the right of communities to chart their own course. Yet here we are, watching Alberta's aspirations for self-determination crushed under the boot of a Constitution that's been weaponized by centralists in Toronto and Ottawa.

The Courtroom Charade: Ottawa's Long Arm Reaches In

Let's break it down. The APP, a beacon of citizen-led activism, submitted this question under Alberta's Citizen Initiative Act—a law our UCP government wisely expanded earlier this year to empower everyday Albertans, not just party insiders. But no sooner had the ink dried than the Chief Electoral Officer, Gordon McClure, shipped it off to the courts for a "constitutionality check." Federal lawyers piled on, wailing about Charter rights and Treaty obligations, as if asking voters a hypothetical question somehow shreds the fabric of Confederation.

https://albertaprosperityproject.com/press-release/day-1-court-update-the-fight-for-albertas-voice-begins/

Justice Feasby obliged, ruling that the Act—as it stood—didn't grant citizens the power to propose secession referendums. He couched it carefully: This isn't about whether Alberta can leave Canada; it's about whether we're allowed to ask the question. It's a distinction without a difference—a bureaucratic dodge that treats Albertans like children who can't handle big ideas. And let's not forget the irony: This decision dropped less than 24 hours after the UCP tabled Bill 14, which would have slammed the door on such judicial meddling by shifting oversight to the Justice Minister and axing the constitutionality roadblock altogether.

The judge even took a swipe at Premier Danielle Smith's government for daring to legislate around the courts, calling it an interference. How dare Alberta defend its sovereignty from the robes of judicial overreach? This is classic liberal playbook: When the people threaten the establishment, tie them up in legal knots until the fire dies out.

From a conservative lens, this reeks of the very centralization we've railed against since the National Energy Program gutted our economy in the '80s. Alberta sends billions to Ottawa in equalization payments—money that props up Quebec's welfare state and Atlantic fisheries—while our hospitals crumble and our kids flee for opportunities elsewhere. We've begged for fair treatment: Pipeline approvals, resource revenue sharing, an end to the gun grab. All we've gotten? Lectures on "unity" from a prime minister who treats us like a cash cow.

The APP's question isn't about burning the maple leaf; it's about forcing a conversation on self-reliance. Independence means controlling our oil royalties, slashing taxes, and building an economy that rewards hard work, not handouts. It's the ultimate expression of conservative principle: Government closest to the people is the best government.

Bill 14: A Partial Victory, But the Battle Rages On

Credit where it's due—the UCP's Bill 14 is a bold stroke for direct democracy. By ending court challenges from the Chief Electoral Officer and removing the "no constitutional violations" clause, it hands power back to citizens and elected officials. APP's own lawyers, like Jeffrey Rath, were gearing up to fight and win in court, but this legislative end-run makes the judge's ruling "irrelevant." Mitch Sylvestre, APP's fearless leader, called it an "unintended gift" that clears the red tape.

Until then, this ruling hangs like a sword of Damocles. And even if Bill 14 sails through, we can't rest. The feds will appeal, intervene, or find another angle to smother our voice. First Nations groups like the Athabasca Chipewyan are already sounding alarms about Treaty rights, and rightly so—any path to independence must honor those sacred agreements.

But that's a conversation for Albertans, not Ottawa overlords.

Next Steps: Weaponize the Citizen Initiative for True Independence

So, what now? Alberta, it's time to double down. The courts may have rejected this round, but the Citizen Initiative Act—supercharged by Bill 14—is our Excalibur. Here's a conservative game plan to seize independence on our terms:

1. Push Bill 14 to the Finish Line—Yesterday. Rally every UCP MLA, every conservative voter, to fast-track this legislation. Contact your representative today. If it passes, the APP's question gets a second life: Re-submit it under the new rules, collect those 177,000 signatures (now easier with the lowered threshold), and force a vote. No more judicial veto—let the people decide.

2. Refine and Reload: Craft Unassailable Questions. If the original wording draws more flak, pivot smartly. Launch parallel initiatives: One on "fiscal autonomy" (e.g., "Should Alberta retain 100% of its resource revenues?"). Another on "energy independence" ("Do you support Alberta seceding from federal environmental regulations?"). Build a cascade of referendums that chip away at federal overreach, culminating in the big one. Each yes vote erodes Ottawa's grip and builds momentum.

3. Mobilize the Grassroots Army. Conservatives thrive on community. APP, team up with like-minded groups—farmers hit by carbon taxes, oil workers idled by red tape, small business owners crushed by equalization. Host town halls in Red Deer, Lethbridge, Grande Prairie. Use social media to amplify stories of federal betrayal. Aim for 500,000 signatures across initiatives; overwhelm the system with democratic fervor.

4. Engage Partners, Not Adversaries. True conservatism respects property rights and treaties. Consult Indigenous leaders early—offer revenue-sharing models that make independence a win-win. Frame this as Alberta rising together, not dividing. And eye alliances: Saskatchewan's flirting with sovereignty; let's coordinate a Western bloc to negotiate from strength.

5. Prepare the Independence Blueprint. While petitions fly, draft the roadmap. A sovereign Alberta means low taxes, balanced budgets, and trade deals on our terms. Study successful models like Norway's oil fund or Switzerland's cantons. Educate voters: This isn't chaos; it's prosperity unshackled.

Prepare the Independence Blueprint. While petitions fly, draft the roadmap. A sovereign Alberta means low taxes, balanced budgets, and trade deals on our terms. Study successful models like Norway's oil fund or Switzerland's cantons. Educate voters: This isn't chaos; it's prosperity unshackled.