EDMONTON — An Alberta First Nation is in court looking to get a petition urging the province to quit Canada put on ice.
The Sturgeon Lake Cree Nation is in Edmonton asking a Court of King’s Bench judge to suspend the petition campaign on the grounds that First Nations’ consent is required.
It’s alleging a failure by Alberta, the province’s chief electoral officer and the federal government to uphold treaty rights.
A group called Stay Free Alberta is collecting signatures to qualify for a referendum on Alberta separation
It has said it has already collected more than the 178,000 signatures required to trigger a vote, although it has until May to submit its petition sheets to Elections Alberta.
Orlagh O’Kelly, a lawyer for the First Nation, says the separation movement has caused serious harm to Indigenous people, including heightened racism and damaged treaty relationships.
The hearing is expected to last multiple days, as other First Nations also challenging the province’s process are scheduled to give arguments later this week.
Jack Farrell, The Canadian Press
