Alberta separatist group allowed to collect referendum signatures.

Elections Alberta has issued citizen initiative petition sheets enabling Mitch Sylvestre and the Alberta Prosperity Project to collect just under 178,000 signatures until May 2 to qualify for a referendum.

Elections Alberta has issued citizen initiative petition signature sheets so organizers can begin collecting names for a referendum on Alberta leaving Canada. The authorization gives Mitch Sylvestre and the Alberta Prosperity Project a period running until May 2 to gather just under 178,000 signatures. The referendum question was approved by Elections Alberta before Christmas, but signature collection was delayed until organizers completed required details. Those details included hiring a chief financial officer, and Elections Alberta said signature sheets have now been issued. Key details: - Elections Alberta issued citizen initiative petition signature sheets and set the collection period through May 2. - Organizers must collect just under 178,000 signatures to qualify for the referendum. - The approved question asks: "Do you agree that the province of Alberta should cease to be a part of Canada to become an independent state?" - Elections Alberta had approved the question before Christmas but postponed collection until final details were completed, including a chief financial officer. - The effort is led by Mitch Sylvestre and the Alberta Prosperity Project; Sylvestre was not immediately reachable for comment, and he has previously cited federal restrictions on oil development and low hopes for electoral change in Ottawa as reasons for seeking a referendum. Summary: Organizers now have a defined window to collect the required signatures by May 2; the immediate effect is the start of a formal signature drive. Undetermined at this time.