If he has expertise he can perhaps advise. Otherwise, he shouldn't be attending. I suspect it's the former.Husband of ex-premier questions why Smith’s spouse sitting in on government meetings
Author of the article:Canadian Press
Canadian Press
Jack Farrell
Published Jul 15, 2025 • 1 minute read
EDMONTON — The husband of a former Alberta premier is questioning why Premier Danielle Smith is inviting her husband to sit in on government meetings.
Lou Arab is married to former premier Rachel Notley and has long been a senior leader with the Canadian Union of Public Employees.
In a social media post, Arab takes issue with Smith’s recent comments saying there is nothing wrong with her husband David Moretta sitting in on meetings discussing government rail projects.
Smith says Moretta covered rail issues as a former journalist and as her husband can advise her on anything she sees fit.
But Arab says when Notley was premier he was not allowed anywhere near labour policy, was not free to lobby any cabinet minister, and says Smith is, in his words, “full of it” when she claims having Moretta in such meetings is acceptable conduct.
The CBC reported this week that Moretta was invited in 2023 to three government meetings about a proposed passenger train project and future provincial rail plans.
Husband of ex-premier questions why Smith’s spouse sitting in on government meetings
The husband of a former Alberta premier is questioning why Premier Danielle Smith is inviting her husband to sit in on government meetings.torontosun.com
Alberta
- Thread starter B00Mer
- Start date
Stay Free Alberta delivers 301K signatures to Edmonton in support of separation
The signatures were gathered over a 120-day period and are to be verified by Elections Alberta within the next 21 days though a court challenge and recent leak of the voters list may delay that timeline
Author of the article:Matthew Black
Published May 04, 2026 • Last updated 13 hours ago • 4 minute read
The proponent of a citizen initiative petition calling on Alberta to secede from Canada says his campaign has collected 301,062 signatures in support.
Mitch Sylvestre, the head of Stay Free Alberta, presented the signature documentation to Elections Alberta at its Edmonton headquarters on Monday afternoon, surrounded by a sea of supporters with Alberta flags.
Sylvestre told reporters there that he was “100 per cent” confident that the signatures will be validated.
“It was full-time work for four months, and we’re happy to be done,” he said. “We’re happy with the number. We’re happy with everything.”
Sylvestre’s question could be included among nine planned provincewide referendums scheduled for Oct. 19, with Premier Danielle Smith previously indicating she would add the question if enough signatures were gathered and verified.
“The premier can put this to a ballot regardless of what happens with Elections Alberta,” he said Monday.
Smith has often spoken of a sovereign Alberta within a united Canada, though Sylvestre said her opinion could be secondary to that of the UCP and its members.
“The premier is the leader,” he said. “The premier may or may not represent the base.”
Mitch Sylvestre, CEO of the Alberta Prosperity Project, surrounded by boxes of signatures outside the Elections Alberta office in Edmonton on April 4, 2026.
Mitch Sylvestre, CEO of the Alberta Prosperity Project, surrounded by boxes of signatures outside the Elections Alberta office in Edmonton on May 4, 2026. Photo by Shaughn Butts /Postmedia
The signatures were gathered over a 120-day period and are to be verified by Elections Alberta within the next 21 days, though that process is currently on hold.
Last month, an Alberta justice issued an initial ruling that effectively, but temporarily, blocked Alberta’s chief electoral officer from certifying the results of the petition following arguments from two First Nations that Sylvestre’s petition breached their treaty rights.
A further ruling in that matter is expected to come this week.
The verification process may also be affected by last week’s reports of a data breach whereby the provincial electors list was posted on a public, searchable website maintained by a separatist group dubbed the Centurion Project led by Take Back Alberta founder David Parker.
The information included the full names, addresses, contact details, and home electoral divisions of 2.9 million Albertans.
Elections Alberta provides the list to political parties but the list is not to be shared or posted publicly.
Sylvestre told reporters Monday that he was pitched on the possible benefits of the Centurion Project’s app but declined to take up the offer.
“They pitched it as it would be very helpful for our movement to get out to vote. I looked at it, I asked if it was legal, they said yes. I didn’t believe it, so I backed away from it.”
Parker denies wrongdoing
On Thursday, Elections Alberta secured a court injunction prohibiting the Republican Party of Alberta from further accessing or using the list.
Last week, the RCMP said it has opened an investigation and the province’s information and privacy commissioner called on the government to update its privacy laws.
Stay Free Alberta, delivered the signature documentation to Elections Alberta headquarters in Edmonton on Monday, May 4, 2026.
Stay Free Alberta delivered the signature documentation to Elections Alberta headquarters in Edmonton on Monday, May 4, 2026. Photo by Shaughn Butts /Postmedia
Parker has previously posted that volunteers used the voters’ list to “find people they know” and claimed they did not have access to phone numbers or emails, and added the group will comply with investigators.
In an email to Postmedia, he stated he was aware of the media reports and Elections Alberta’s allegations.
“The allegations that I personally received or distributed any unauthorized voter data are false,” he wrote.
“These issues involve active court proceedings and investigations. I will not be commenting further on the operations of the Centurion Project or the media speculation. We will let the legal process unfold.”
Elections Alberta said amendments made to government legislation last year limited its ability to investigate, though the province disputes that, calling it inaccurate.
It said Monday that signature verification will now also include determining if any of the seeded names it uses to track the list came from the version given to the Republican Party of Alberta.
Sylvestre’s group was required to get 177,732 signatures and claimed to surpass that mark by the end of March.
A citizen initiative petition put forward last year under different rules by former deputy premier Thomas Lukaszuk that calls for Alberta to remain within Canada gathered more than 430,000 signatures in 90 days.
Elections Alberta investigation
In question period on Monday, Official Opposition Leader Naheed Nenshi asked Smith what her government intends to do about reports the electors’ list was leaked, with the premier responding she would defer to Elections Alberta.
“It is the law that Elections Alberta has to conduct their investigations privately before they go public with them. There’s no obligation or requirement for them to inform government,” she said.
“If a breach has been discovered, then we hope that those who are responsible are held accountable to the full extent of the law.”
At a news conference later on Monday, Nenshi accused Smith of doing nothing about the apparent leak.
“Does that mean that we will have a referendum or even a general election under this cloud of suspicion that Albertans will not think is free and fair?”
mblack@postmedia.com
torontosun.com
The signatures were gathered over a 120-day period and are to be verified by Elections Alberta within the next 21 days though a court challenge and recent leak of the voters list may delay that timeline
Author of the article:Matthew Black
Published May 04, 2026 • Last updated 13 hours ago • 4 minute read
The proponent of a citizen initiative petition calling on Alberta to secede from Canada says his campaign has collected 301,062 signatures in support.
Mitch Sylvestre, the head of Stay Free Alberta, presented the signature documentation to Elections Alberta at its Edmonton headquarters on Monday afternoon, surrounded by a sea of supporters with Alberta flags.
Sylvestre told reporters there that he was “100 per cent” confident that the signatures will be validated.
“It was full-time work for four months, and we’re happy to be done,” he said. “We’re happy with the number. We’re happy with everything.”
Sylvestre’s question could be included among nine planned provincewide referendums scheduled for Oct. 19, with Premier Danielle Smith previously indicating she would add the question if enough signatures were gathered and verified.
“The premier can put this to a ballot regardless of what happens with Elections Alberta,” he said Monday.
Smith has often spoken of a sovereign Alberta within a united Canada, though Sylvestre said her opinion could be secondary to that of the UCP and its members.
“The premier is the leader,” he said. “The premier may or may not represent the base.”
Mitch Sylvestre, CEO of the Alberta Prosperity Project, surrounded by boxes of signatures outside the Elections Alberta office in Edmonton on April 4, 2026.
Mitch Sylvestre, CEO of the Alberta Prosperity Project, surrounded by boxes of signatures outside the Elections Alberta office in Edmonton on May 4, 2026. Photo by Shaughn Butts /Postmedia
The signatures were gathered over a 120-day period and are to be verified by Elections Alberta within the next 21 days, though that process is currently on hold.
Last month, an Alberta justice issued an initial ruling that effectively, but temporarily, blocked Alberta’s chief electoral officer from certifying the results of the petition following arguments from two First Nations that Sylvestre’s petition breached their treaty rights.
A further ruling in that matter is expected to come this week.
The verification process may also be affected by last week’s reports of a data breach whereby the provincial electors list was posted on a public, searchable website maintained by a separatist group dubbed the Centurion Project led by Take Back Alberta founder David Parker.
The information included the full names, addresses, contact details, and home electoral divisions of 2.9 million Albertans.
Elections Alberta provides the list to political parties but the list is not to be shared or posted publicly.
Sylvestre told reporters Monday that he was pitched on the possible benefits of the Centurion Project’s app but declined to take up the offer.
“They pitched it as it would be very helpful for our movement to get out to vote. I looked at it, I asked if it was legal, they said yes. I didn’t believe it, so I backed away from it.”
Parker denies wrongdoing
On Thursday, Elections Alberta secured a court injunction prohibiting the Republican Party of Alberta from further accessing or using the list.
Last week, the RCMP said it has opened an investigation and the province’s information and privacy commissioner called on the government to update its privacy laws.
Stay Free Alberta, delivered the signature documentation to Elections Alberta headquarters in Edmonton on Monday, May 4, 2026.
Stay Free Alberta delivered the signature documentation to Elections Alberta headquarters in Edmonton on Monday, May 4, 2026. Photo by Shaughn Butts /Postmedia
Parker has previously posted that volunteers used the voters’ list to “find people they know” and claimed they did not have access to phone numbers or emails, and added the group will comply with investigators.
In an email to Postmedia, he stated he was aware of the media reports and Elections Alberta’s allegations.
“The allegations that I personally received or distributed any unauthorized voter data are false,” he wrote.
“These issues involve active court proceedings and investigations. I will not be commenting further on the operations of the Centurion Project or the media speculation. We will let the legal process unfold.”
Elections Alberta said amendments made to government legislation last year limited its ability to investigate, though the province disputes that, calling it inaccurate.
It said Monday that signature verification will now also include determining if any of the seeded names it uses to track the list came from the version given to the Republican Party of Alberta.
Sylvestre’s group was required to get 177,732 signatures and claimed to surpass that mark by the end of March.
A citizen initiative petition put forward last year under different rules by former deputy premier Thomas Lukaszuk that calls for Alberta to remain within Canada gathered more than 430,000 signatures in 90 days.
Elections Alberta investigation
In question period on Monday, Official Opposition Leader Naheed Nenshi asked Smith what her government intends to do about reports the electors’ list was leaked, with the premier responding she would defer to Elections Alberta.
“It is the law that Elections Alberta has to conduct their investigations privately before they go public with them. There’s no obligation or requirement for them to inform government,” she said.
“If a breach has been discovered, then we hope that those who are responsible are held accountable to the full extent of the law.”
At a news conference later on Monday, Nenshi accused Smith of doing nothing about the apparent leak.
“Does that mean that we will have a referendum or even a general election under this cloud of suspicion that Albertans will not think is free and fair?”
mblack@postmedia.com
Stay Free Alberta delivers 301K signatures to Edmonton in support of separation
Elections Alberta has 21 days to verify the signatures though a court challenge and leaked voters list may delay that timeline.
Well, a referendum was promised if the signatures were there so the referendum should be a done deal. I seriously don't understand why there's so much fear. It's direct democracy which we need more of not less. Besides, if the polling is true, the call for independence will fail. So, if everyone votes, we'll know exactly where we stand won't we? The fearmongering is stupid.Stay Free Alberta delivers 301K signatures to Edmonton in support of separation
The signatures were gathered over a 120-day period and are to be verified by Elections Alberta within the next 21 days though a court challenge and recent leak of the voters list may delay that timeline
Author of the article:Matthew Black
Published May 04, 2026 • Last updated 13 hours ago • 4 minute read
The proponent of a citizen initiative petition calling on Alberta to secede from Canada says his campaign has collected 301,062 signatures in support.
Mitch Sylvestre, the head of Stay Free Alberta, presented the signature documentation to Elections Alberta at its Edmonton headquarters on Monday afternoon, surrounded by a sea of supporters with Alberta flags.
Sylvestre told reporters there that he was “100 per cent” confident that the signatures will be validated.
“It was full-time work for four months, and we’re happy to be done,” he said. “We’re happy with the number. We’re happy with everything.”
Sylvestre’s question could be included among nine planned provincewide referendums scheduled for Oct. 19, with Premier Danielle Smith previously indicating she would add the question if enough signatures were gathered and verified.
“The premier can put this to a ballot regardless of what happens with Elections Alberta,” he said Monday.
Smith has often spoken of a sovereign Alberta within a united Canada, though Sylvestre said her opinion could be secondary to that of the UCP and its members.
“The premier is the leader,” he said. “The premier may or may not represent the base.”
Mitch Sylvestre, CEO of the Alberta Prosperity Project, surrounded by boxes of signatures outside the Elections Alberta office in Edmonton on April 4, 2026.
Mitch Sylvestre, CEO of the Alberta Prosperity Project, surrounded by boxes of signatures outside the Elections Alberta office in Edmonton on May 4, 2026. Photo by Shaughn Butts /Postmedia
The signatures were gathered over a 120-day period and are to be verified by Elections Alberta within the next 21 days, though that process is currently on hold.
Last month, an Alberta justice issued an initial ruling that effectively, but temporarily, blocked Alberta’s chief electoral officer from certifying the results of the petition following arguments from two First Nations that Sylvestre’s petition breached their treaty rights.
A further ruling in that matter is expected to come this week.
The verification process may also be affected by last week’s reports of a data breach whereby the provincial electors list was posted on a public, searchable website maintained by a separatist group dubbed the Centurion Project led by Take Back Alberta founder David Parker.
The information included the full names, addresses, contact details, and home electoral divisions of 2.9 million Albertans.
Elections Alberta provides the list to political parties but the list is not to be shared or posted publicly.
Sylvestre told reporters Monday that he was pitched on the possible benefits of the Centurion Project’s app but declined to take up the offer.
“They pitched it as it would be very helpful for our movement to get out to vote. I looked at it, I asked if it was legal, they said yes. I didn’t believe it, so I backed away from it.”
Parker denies wrongdoing
On Thursday, Elections Alberta secured a court injunction prohibiting the Republican Party of Alberta from further accessing or using the list.
Last week, the RCMP said it has opened an investigation and the province’s information and privacy commissioner called on the government to update its privacy laws.
Stay Free Alberta, delivered the signature documentation to Elections Alberta headquarters in Edmonton on Monday, May 4, 2026.
Stay Free Alberta delivered the signature documentation to Elections Alberta headquarters in Edmonton on Monday, May 4, 2026. Photo by Shaughn Butts /Postmedia
Parker has previously posted that volunteers used the voters’ list to “find people they know” and claimed they did not have access to phone numbers or emails, and added the group will comply with investigators.
In an email to Postmedia, he stated he was aware of the media reports and Elections Alberta’s allegations.
“The allegations that I personally received or distributed any unauthorized voter data are false,” he wrote.
“These issues involve active court proceedings and investigations. I will not be commenting further on the operations of the Centurion Project or the media speculation. We will let the legal process unfold.”
Elections Alberta said amendments made to government legislation last year limited its ability to investigate, though the province disputes that, calling it inaccurate.
It said Monday that signature verification will now also include determining if any of the seeded names it uses to track the list came from the version given to the Republican Party of Alberta.
Sylvestre’s group was required to get 177,732 signatures and claimed to surpass that mark by the end of March.
A citizen initiative petition put forward last year under different rules by former deputy premier Thomas Lukaszuk that calls for Alberta to remain within Canada gathered more than 430,000 signatures in 90 days.
Elections Alberta investigation
In question period on Monday, Official Opposition Leader Naheed Nenshi asked Smith what her government intends to do about reports the electors’ list was leaked, with the premier responding she would defer to Elections Alberta.
“It is the law that Elections Alberta has to conduct their investigations privately before they go public with them. There’s no obligation or requirement for them to inform government,” she said.
“If a breach has been discovered, then we hope that those who are responsible are held accountable to the full extent of the law.”
At a news conference later on Monday, Nenshi accused Smith of doing nothing about the apparent leak.
“Does that mean that we will have a referendum or even a general election under this cloud of suspicion that Albertans will not think is free and fair?”
mblack@postmedia.com
Stay Free Alberta delivers 301K signatures to Edmonton in support of separation
Elections Alberta has 21 days to verify the signatures though a court challenge and leaked voters list may delay that timeline.
These fucking turds are practically working for the Federal Liberals by providing them yet another boogeyman.
They should be wearing Liberal colors, because that's who they are benefiting directly.
So you think Alberta should keep bending over and spreading them from now into eternity?
So you think Canada is a stable country with a positive future in our present direction?
No but you characterize those wanting to leave confederation or at least get a better deal as separist numbfucks .
Some of what Albertans are hoping to do might be possible with a united western party where they don't have to worry about people from southern Ontario changing sides, but let's just keep talking about it for another 10 years or so.
Quebec had the government bending over a barrel , begging them to stay .And stay they did with their hand out all the way . You don’t think if aAlberta separatism gets anywhere close to passing the Feds will sweeten the pot
If you're asking me if I think threatening to leave is a good strategy for dealing with the feds, my answer is, "No!"
I was born and lived in Quebec, my brother is buried in Montreal, and I have lived in Alberta for almost two decades.
When Harper left office, separatism was dead in Quebec and in Alberta. Now it's alive and well.
Do you think that was by accident?
The Federal Liberals are only in power because they convinced a bunch of Canadians that the country is in a crisis due to Donald Trump, to rape culture in the Canadian military, to mass transgender suicides, Freedom Truckers who are secretly nazis, and I could go on and on. But it's all fake, and rather than let this fake crisis burn itself out, the separatists give the liberals even more fuel to fire their propaganda.
They helped get Carney elected for fuck sake.
Here's a gooder: THE REPUBLICAN PARTY OF ALBERTA.
Could they have picked a less numbfuck name?
The Liberals thrive on crisis, and numbfuckery is their best friend.
Personally, I like Daniel Smith's approach. Kick their ass in court, which she has done.
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For 2026, Quebec and the Atlantic provinces (particularly Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, and PEI) generally impose the highest personal income taxes, while high-income earners (top 20%) pay the majority of all taxes. Newfoundland and Labrador has a top marginal rate of 54.8%, and Quebec also has high overall tax burdens for middle-to-high earners
Considering the RCMP have already debunked this shit, but why would anyone be surprised. It's ok for Quebec to hold a referendum but not Alberta. What a surprise. Quebec doesn't offer anything to the country cuz they're mostly "takers", but Alberta gives so of course they'll make sure we're the "evil ones" which makes me wonder - what are Quebecers considered - "angels"? The whole thing is stupid. The referendum should go through & will likely fail but at least we'll know where everyone stands. We need way more referendums. As it is now, no matter who we elect, after they're in office, we no longer have any say.
The freedom truckers who are secretly nazis , give your head a shake . The Liberals and their anti Alberta policies are directly responsible for the separatist sentiment both in Alberta and Quebec . Trump has absolutely zero to do with separation .