Alberta Premier Danielle Smith and Thomas Lukaszuk, founder of the Forever Canada movement, are disputing who is responsible for the question on Alberta remaining in Canada being put to voters, CTV News Calgary reports.
About 75% backed staying in Canada in the 19 October referendum, with official results due on 29 October. Smith says Forever Canada started the process with its petition of some 400,000 signatures and that the government simply followed the law.
Lukaszuk, a former deputy premier, says he never sought a referendum. His June 2025 application to Elections Alberta, seen by CTV, was marked as a legislative or policy proposal rather than a constitutional referendum proposal, and he says his aim was to block a binding vote on separation. Elections Alberta told CTV that applicants do not choose the type of petition. Lukaszuk accused the premier of trying to shift the blame.
Source: CTV News Canada
