Subhead:Kinew insists Alberta has a “duty to consult” First Nations before deliberating on possible pipeline deals.#
Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew publicly challenged Alberta Premier Danielle Smith this week over the province’s handling of a citizen-led independence petition, insisting Alberta had a constitutional “duty to consult” First Nations before the process could proceed.
But critics of Kinew’s comments are pointing out a major problem with that argument:
The Alberta government did not create the petition.
I love Canada 🇨🇦 pic.twitter.com/6hAhTThLnc
— Wab Kinew (@WabKinew) May 26, 2026
The petition was launched by private citizens under Alberta’s existing citizen initiative legislation — legislation originally brought in under former premier Jason Kenney and later amended through Bill 54 to lower signature thresholds and extend collection timelines.
In other words, the government did not draft the question, gather signatures, or initiate the campaign itself.
Not sorry @WabKinew, but in Alberta we believe in democracy and when 700,000 Albertans ask for a referendum, you don’t ignore that. https://t.co/wn8C5oZOJA
— Blaine Badiuk (@BlaineBadiuk) May 27, 2026
And at the time much of this debate erupted, Elections Alberta had not even validated the petition signatures yet.
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