A separatist supporter holds a box during a rally in front of the Elections Alberta headquarters in Edmonton earlier in May. A judge struck down the petition on Wednesday that called for an independence referendum in the fall.HENRY MARKEN/AFP/Getty Images
Alberta must respect the rights of Indigenous peoples and individual freedoms if it wishes to hold an independence referendum, Prime Minister Mark Carney said Thursday, one day after an Alberta judge struck down a separatist group’s petition.
Court of King’s Bench Justice Shaina Leonard on Wednesday blocked separatist leader Mitch Sylvestre’s petition, which sought to force a provincewide vote this fall, saying the province failed to consult with First Nations about how seceding from Canada would affect treaty rights.
The decision also hinged on recent changes to provincial law by Premier Danielle Smith’s government, which sought to sidestep a prior court ruling. It found residents don’t have the power to initiate an independence referendum under Alberta’s citizen-initiative laws.
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Mr. Carney referred to Justice Leonard’s decision when asked if he believed an independence referendum should proceed.
“We have standards and an ability for provinces to hold referenda on a variety of subjects. Obviously, we support that,” Mr. Carney said.
“That means respecting the rights of Indigenous peoples, respecting the rights of people to privacy.”
Mr. Carney is expected to be in Calgary on Friday for an announcement on a new deal on industrial carbon pricing. That would fulfill a key element of the energy accord the Prime Minister and Ms. Smith signed last November.
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The deal could pave the way for a new oil pipeline to the West Coast. The two politicians have argued the agreement would show Confederation can work for Alberta.
“I view that very much the best place for Alberta is in Canada, and certainly, a Canada that works, which is what we’re pursuing,” Mr. Carney said on Thursday.
Asked if he was trying to build a bitumen pipeline for national unity, Mr. Carney said no.
Justice Leonard’s decision put immediate pressure on Ms. Smith to use the government’s powers to call an independence referendum.
Ms. Smith and separatist leader Mr. Sylvestre said they will appeal the decision. At a news conference on Wednesday, Ms. Smith called the decision “incorrect in law and anti-democratic.”