Alberta Government Appeals Court Ruling Blocking Secession Referendum Petition

A British Columbia Supreme Court judge upheld the province’s decision that the proposed Record Ridge magnesium mine near Rossland does not require an environmental assessment. The decision was welcomed by West High Yield Resources Ltd., which said the ruling removes a legal barrier to construction.

In Alberta, Premier Danielle Smith called a recent court decision “anti‑democratic” after Justice Shaina Leonard of the Court of King’s Bench threw out a petition seeking a vote on the province’s separation from Canada. The petition, signed by about 302,000 Albertans, was ruled invalid because it should not have been issued under provincial law and because the government failed to consult First Nations. The province has filed an appeal, alleging fourteen errors in the judgment, including a mistaken view that issuing the petition triggered a duty to consult and a misinterpretation of a December bill that allowed the separatist group to re‑apply after an earlier rejection. The appeal does not request expedited handling. Smith had announced that an Oct. 19 referendum would ask voters whether they wish to remain in Canada or pursue a second, binding referendum on separation, but the court’s ruling prevented a direct separation question from being placed on the ballot.