The Alberta Legislature in Edmonton, on Thursday Oct. 31, 2024.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson

By The Canadian Press

POLITICS

Alberta premier’s constitutional affairs lead supports separatist petition

Mar 27, 2026 | 12:32 PM

EDMONTON — Premier Danielle Smith’s parliamentary secretary for constitutional affairs is encouraging Albertans to sign a petition that calls for a vote on separation from Canada.

Jason Stephan, a United Conservative Party legislature member, penned his opinion for the online conservative media outlet “Western Standard.”

In it, Stephan argues signing the petition to have a referendum on separation is different from signing the referendum itself.

He says the petition is about holding Ottawa accountable for “stupid laws and policies” that “erode Albertans’ freedoms in favour of a nanny state.”

Smith and some of her cabinet ministers have maintained they support a sovereign Alberta within a united Canada but also believe in direct democracy.

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Stephan says despite the premier’s inroads with Ottawa, the federal government’s “hostile” treatment of Alberta won’t change.

He says despite Smith reaching an agreement with Prime Minister Mark Carney’s Liberals to roll back environmental measures in an effort to build a West Coast pipeline, Ottawa’s perennial “looting” of Alberta “will NEVER be rolled back.”

Rakhi Pancholi, Deputy Leader of the Official Opposition, issued the following statement in response to Stephan’s op-ed:

“This separatist Premier, separatist government and separatist UCP caucus have shown their true colours time and time again. They do not believe in our province being an essential, strong part of our country. They reject the country that Albertans are proud to be part of.

“Today, Premier Smith’s hand-picked Parliamentary Secretary for Constitutional Affairs, MLA Jason Stephan, confirmed he is a separatist in an opinion piece he wrote for a right-wing media outlet. He ignored all the concerns raised by Alberta businesses that even the prospect of a separatism referendum is freezing investment and negatively affecting our economy. He encourages voters to sign the separatist referendum petition and demand a referendum.

“Not one UCP MLA has publicly signed a pledge confirming their commitment to Canada and denouncing separatism. That’s because there are separatists in the UCP caucus, and the Premier knows it. Today’s statement from MLA Jason Stephen confirms it.

“Albertans are clear – they are proud Canadians. They know that we get more done when Alberta leads Canada, than if we leave Canada. Alberta’s New Democrats believe in building up Alberta and Canada, because our love for this province and this remarkable country is unbreakable.

“The Premier, who pretends she is not a separatist, must unequivocably denounce her Parliamentary Secretary’s separatist position, today. She must remove MLA Stephan and any other UCP MLAs who support separatism from her government caucus immediately.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 27, 2026.

Lisa Johnson, The Canadian Press

(With files from rdnewsNOW)