West Country residents who’d like to sign an anti-separation petition can do so in Rocky Mountain House.

The Medical Equipment Lending (MEL) Society, Rocky Legion and Rocky Spray Park will serve as a signing locations for the Forever Canada petition until Oct. 23.

“Do you agree that Alberta should remain in Canada?”

That’s the question Albertans could potentially see as a referendum question in 2026.

Former deputy premier Thomas Lukaszuk, once a long-time MLA with the Progressive Conservatives, and former cabinet minister (2010-2014) filed his petition at the end of June.

The campaign is pushback against the separatist sentiment in Alberta that once again bubbled to the surface after the federal Liberals’ election win in late April.

Premier Danielle Smith’s United Conservative government later lowered the threshold for citizens to initiate a referendum, including on separatism.

Lukaszuk filed for his petition before that came into effect, and his campaign is subject to the old rules.

According to an update at the beginning of October, Lukaszuk says his group, now with some 5,000 canvassers collecting names, has gathered 230,000 signatures.

That’s some 64,000 shy of the roughly 294,000 needed before the end of October to trigger a referendum.

Lukaszuk goal is to surpass 300,000 signatures in order to cushion against some being disqualified because of a missing phone number or incorrect email.

Smith has said she wants to see a sovereign Alberta within a united Canada and has declined to endorse Lukaszuk’s campaign.

The petition will be available for signatures at the MEL Society (Bay 2, 4907 – 44 St., Rocky Mtn. House) Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. until Oct. 23.

It will also be available at the Rocky Spray Park (4733 54 Ave) Oct. 9 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., and the Rocky Legion (4911 – 49 St) Oct. 9-10 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The deadline to collect signatures for the petition is Oct. 28. You can see all the signing locations here.

–

RELATED:

• Alberta anti-separatist petitioners tout more than two thirds of required signatures
• Podcast: ‘Alberta Forever Canada’ petition organizer says to expect a knock at your door soon

–

~ with files from the Canadian Press