Edmonton- Elections Alberta has approved a citizen-led initiative seeking a constitutional referendum on whether Alberta should become an independent country.
In a statement released by the province’s electoral authority, Elections Alberta confirmed that Mitch Sylvestre, chief executive officer of the Alberta Prosperity Project, is the official proponent of the initiative. The proposal asks Albertans to decide whether the province should separate from Canada and form an independent state.
According to Elections Alberta, the application was reviewed by Alberta’s Chief Electoral Officer, Gordon McClure, and was found to meet the legal requirements set out under Section 2 of the Citizen Initiative Act. As a result, a Notice of Initiative Petition has been formally issued and published on the Elections Alberta website, in compliance with the Act. A copy of the application has also been forwarded to Alberta’s Minister of Justice, as required by law.
The approved application outlines a constitutional referendum with the subject matter identified as a referendum relating to Alberta’s independence. The proposed referendum question asks voters: “Do you agree that the Province of Alberta should cease to be a part of Canada to become an independent state?” Mitch Sylvestre is listed as the official proponent of the initiative.
Under Alberta’s citizen initiative process, the proponents must collect 178,000 valid signatures within a four-month period for the proposal to advance. If that threshold is met, the government would be required to proceed with a referendum, allowing Albertans to vote yes or no on the proposed question of independence.
Following the approval, the Alberta Prosperity Project publicly celebrated the decision on social media, describing it as a significant milestone for the movement. In a post announcing the development, the group characterized the approval as a major victory and said it marks the beginning of the mandatory notice period before signature collection begins.
“HUGE VICTORY FOR ALBERTA!” the group wrote. “Today, December 22, 2025, Elections Alberta has officially accepted our Citizen Initiative Petition for a referendum on Alberta Independence. The mandatory notice period starts now — this is the breakthrough we’ve been fighting for. Soon, we’ll be collecting signatures to put Alberta’s future directly in YOUR hands.”
The organization framed the initiative as an opportunity for Albertans to directly shape the province’s future, using slogans centered on faith, family, and freedom while calling for a “prosperous, sovereign Alberta.”
The approval does not trigger a referendum automatically. The next phase of the process depends on whether supporters are able to gather the required number of signatures within the allotted timeframe, as outlined under provincial legislation.
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