Hundreds of people lined up in frigid conditions Thursday at a community centre in Stony Plain, just west of Edmonton, to sign a petition calling for a referendum on Alberta leaving Canada. Doors opened around lunchtime, but long lines had already formed, with some participants waiting more than an hour for a chance to add their names.
Several signatories said frustration with Ottawa drove their decision. Roger Cyr said he believes Alberta subsidizes other provinces while its concerns are routinely ignored by the federal government. Shirley and Dave Howard echoed that sentiment, saying they think the province would be financially better off as an independent country.
The Stony Plain gathering was one of many signature drives organized across Alberta by Stay Free Alberta, part of a referendum campaign approved by the province’s chief electoral officer. Organizers say turnout has been strong at events held over the past three weeks, with similar lineups reported elsewhere in the province.
The group has until May to collect roughly 178,000 valid signatures to trigger a provincewide vote on separation, a target supporters say is within reach as momentum builds despite the bitter winter weather.