Alberta Premier Danielle Smith outlined the government's referendum framework on Tuesday, a day after separatists rallied at the provincial legislature in Edmonton. She reiterated that any independence vote would follow a citizen-initiated petition process.

Smith's United Conservative Party government lowered the petition threshold earlier this year, requiring roughly 177,000 signatures to trigger a provincewide referendum. The Alberta Prosperity Project, the main separatist group, has said it intends to gather enough support to force a vote in 2026.

Smith has repeatedly said she does not personally support separation but backs Albertans' right to decide. She has framed the movement as leverage against Ottawa over pipelines, equalisation payments and federal energy policy under Prime Minister Mark Carney's government.

Opposition NDP leader Naheed Nenshi condemned the government for legitimising separatist sentiment, arguing it damages investment and national unity. Officials in Ottawa have signalled they will not negotiate constitutional changes under the threat of a referendum.

The rally and Smith's response underscored deepening Western alienation as a Canada-US trade dispute strains the province's oil-dependent economy. Polls by Angus Reid have shown roughly one in four Albertans open to independence.