The Republican Party of Alberta is calling on Premier Danielle Smith to commit to a binding referendum on Alberta independence in spring 2026.

The party issued a statement Aug. 25 arguing that the Government of Alberta already has the authority to schedule such a referendum without requiring a petition, claiming what is missing is political will rather than mechanism.

“Albertans deserve clarity on their future, and delaying this decision only deepens the challenges we face,” the party states in its release.

The Republican Party cites federal fiscal management, rising costs of living and what it describes as constraints on Albertans’ rights as reasons for urgency. The statement specifically mentions Prime Minister Mark Carney, claiming decision-makers are “mortgaging Alberta’s future without accountability.”

“Alberta must be free to choose a future that protects its prosperity and freedoms,” the party says. “A referendum in the spring of 2026 provides a clear, democratic path forward, allowing Albertans to make that choice for themselves.”

The statement concludes by suggesting that if the current government does not act, Albertans will have the opportunity to replace it in the next election with one that will pursue independence.