Sisi Chan

‘This is overwhelming’: Alberta separatists praise turnout for petition signing

Recently, a wave of support was seen at the meeting in Red Deer for the Stay Free Alberta group. They are on a mission to separate Alberta from Canada, and their method of choice is a petition.

The group is faced with the challenge to collect nearly 177,000 signatures by a May 2 deadline.

However, the media was restricted at the meeting. They could not record anyone signing the petition or interview supporters on-site.

Despite the restrictions , there were anecdotes of long waiting times, highlighting the overwhelming support that the separatist group garnered.

The sentiment among the supporters is one of frustration towards the federal government and the perceived economic imbalance.

However, the group organizer gave a vague updates about the petition’s progress and denied any support from the U.S. government.

As for public opinion, two polls showed a split response to Alberta’s potential separation from Canada. The numbers varied depending on demographic factors.

The Stay Free Alberta group still faces a series of legal hurdles.

A notable opposition to the group was seen in the form of a counter-petition, which resulted in a high volume of signatures.

The Research Co and Pollara surveys provided additional insight into the general public’s view on Alberta’s separation.