Danielle Smith, Alberta justice minister want separation referendum question approved

Premier Danielle Smith and one of her ministers are calling on Alberta’s electoral officer to reverse course and sign off on a proposed referendum question on separation, saying it shouldn’t be held back by red tape.

Their call is in response to chief electoral officer Gordon McClure announcing Monday he referred the proposed question to the courts so a judge could decide if it contravenes Canada’s Constitution.

The proposed question – which needs McClure’s approval before the group behind it can start gathering the signatures necessary to get it on a ballot – seeks a yes or no answer to: “Do you agree that the Province of Alberta shall become a sovereign country and cease to be a province in Canada?”