As Alberta's legislature concluded a tumultuous fall sitting, a significant and controversial policy change was enacted not through open debate, but by a closed-door cabinet decision. The Smith government has quietly increased the cost to apply for a citizen-led referendum petition by a staggering 5,000%, a move critics argue makes a mockery of the premier's recent rhetoric on direct democracy.
A Sudden and Steep Price Hike for Public Petitions
Last week, through an order-in-council, the Alberta cabinet unilaterally raised the application fee for a referendum petition from $500 to $25,000. The change also introduced new restrictions on fundraising for that amount. This move came just after the legislature debated and passed Bill 14, which itself revived a separatist-led petition effort, and as MLAs had already left for the holiday break.
The government has defended the drastic fee increase as necessary to "discourage frivolous applications and protect Alberta taxpayers." However, this justification was notably absent from the recent legislative discussions on Bill 14, which was designed to make the referendum process more permissive.
Political Context and Accusations of Hypocrisy
Observers note the timing is hardly coincidental. The change was implemented shortly after separatist groups within the province resubmitted their proposal to Elections Alberta. The government's action is seen by many as a direct response to an organized separatist movement that poses a potential threat to Premier Danielle Smith's leadership within her own party.
This represents a sharp reversal from the government's position earlier in 2025. In the aftermath of the federal election, the province passed Bill 54, which lowered the petition threshold required to trigger a referendum. That bill was later amended to address First Nations' concerns, which complicated the separatists' initial efforts.
How Bill 14 Paved the Way
The recent Bill 14 effectively cleared the path for the separatist petition by removing several key hurdles. The legislation eliminated the provision that only one petition on a specific issue could proceed. It also removed the ability for a potential referendum question to be referred to the courts for a constitutional review, eliminating concerns about an unconstitutional question being put to voters.
With the procedural path smoothed by legislation, the cabinet's subsequent decision to impose a prohibitive financial barrier is being characterized as chaotic, hypocritical, and duplicitous. While the move may achieve the short-term political goal of stifling a specific challenge, it raises profound questions about the government's commitment to genuine democratic engagement and whether these maneuvers truly serve the interests of all Albertans.
