Alberta Revises Referendum Bill to ‘Reassert’ Treaty Rights Commitment

Alberta Revises Referendum Bill to ‘Reassert’ Treaty Rights Commitment
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith and Minister of Justice Mickey Amery announce proposed changes to several pieces of democratic process legislation, in Edmonton on April 29, 2025. Jason Franson/The Canadian Press
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The Alberta government has amended its proposed referendum legislation to make it clear that citizen-initiated petitions cannot infringe on the treaty rights of indigenous peoples.

The amendments respond to feedback from First Nations and indigenous partners and are intended to “reassert” the province’s commitment to protecting treaty rights in the event of a citizen-initiated referendum, Justice Minister Mickey Amery said in a May 14 statement.