Canada - May 2026

On 19 October, citizens in Alberta will vote in a referendum on whether they want to remain part of Canada or start the process to hold a second binding referendum on leaving the country. This follows a citizen-led initiative in Alberta that sought to trigger a provincial independence referendum through a petition that gathered more than 300,000 signatures, (above the legal threshold required under the Citizen Initiative Act). However, on 13 May, an Alberta court quashed the petition process, ruling that authorities had failed to consider the impact of secession on Indigenous treaty rights and had not fulfilled the Crown’s duty to consult First Nations. Indigenous groups argued that separation would disrupt constitutionally protected treaties. The ruling drew criticism from provincial leaders, who have appealed, while First Nations warned of escalating tensions if consultation obligations continue to be ignored. 

Sources:  The Guardian, BBC, CBC