EDMONTON — A new grassroots effort called Forever Canadian is gaining momentum in Alberta, positioning itself as a unifying force against the province’s stalled separatist movement. The group, which launched only weeks ago, has already attracted more than 4,000 members on social media and is beginning to snowball as broader efforts to keep Alberta in Canada are taking shape.
The movement has now adopted Forever Canadian as its official name and has become a key organizing point for former Deputy Premier Thomas Lukaszuk. He is leading a campaign to ensure that any future referendum on Alberta’s status in Confederation is framed as a vote to stay, not to leave. Lukaszuk is one of several political voices working to affirm Alberta’s continued role in a nation nearing its 160th anniversary.
Forever Canadian is part of a growing coalition that appears to be outflanking Alberta separatists, who are struggling to build public support. Recent polling suggests support for separation remains stuck, with only around 30 per cent willing to consider having a referendum on the separation at all, according to Angus Reid. That is well below the threshold required by the federal Clarity Act, which was affirmed by the Supreme Court of Canada. The act requires a “clear majority” in any provincial secession vote, generally understood to mean significantly more than a simple majority and often interpreted as above 85 per cent.
Adding further weight to the Forever Canadian movement is the support of Ian McLelland, a former founding member of the Reform Party fand former Member of Parliament, who has publicly endorsed the group and its goal of keeping Alberta within Confederation.
Forever Canadian organizers are also collecting signatures to put forward their own referendum question, one that would affirm Alberta’s place in Canada. Under provincial rules, only one citizen-initiated question on a single issue can appear on a ballot. If successful, the campaign could prevent separatists from presenting their own referendum question altogether.
The pro-separation movement intends to file their citizen referendum paperwork tomorrow, July 4, the “birthday” of the United States of America. Sources close to the matter, speaking on condition of anonymity, tell Harvard Media News the Election Ombudsman is likely to reject the question for a variety or reasons.
Former Deputy Premier Thomas Lukaszuk says there is still much more to come.
