Forever Canadian — the volunteer‑driven group that gathered hundreds of thousands of signatures urging Alberta to stay within Confederation — has announced it will formally operate as a third‑party advertiser in the province’s looming referendum on separation.
Group shifts from petitioning to active campaigning
The organisation’s founder and former deputy premier, Thomas Lukaszuk, said on Monday the group will pivot from its prior strategy of promoting national unity through petitions and public events to directly encouraging voters to choose option A on question 10 — the ballot question that asks whether Alberta should remain a province of Canada or whether the provincial government should begin a legal process toward a binding referendum on separation.
Forever Canadian launched in July 2025 and went on to collect 404,293 verified signatures in support of keeping Alberta in Canada. The group has also distributed more than 80,000 lawn signs and hosted numerous events across the province, including a concert in Calgary intended to rally support for unity.
“We will be imploring that every eligible voter votes in this particular election, and checks off option 1, that is option A, on question 10 for Alberta to remain in Canada,”
Lukaszuk told reporters the decision to register as a third‑party advertiser came as the organisation became increasingly concerned about voter apathy with only weeks remaining before polling day. He said the switch is intended to boost turnout and ensure supporters do not assume an easy victory.
Why formal registration matters
Registering as a third‑party advertiser allows Forever Canadian to more directly participate in campaign activity under the province’s election and referendum rules. That designation typically triggers reporting requirements, spending limits and public disclosure obligations designed to make electoral influence more transparent.
Observers say the move signals a tactical escalation in the run‑up to a referendum that has consumed Alberta politics and drawn national attention. A formal campaign by a well‑resourced and widely recognised pro‑unity group may increase visibility for the option to remain in Canada, but it will also sharpen contrasts between the two sides at a time when turnout could determine the outcome.
Campaign context and stakes
The referendum question — whether to maintain Alberta’s status as a province or initiate a legal process to hold a binding referendum on separation — has polarised voters and policymakers. Provincial leaders and federal officials have repeatedly warned of the far‑reaching constitutional, economic and legal complexities that would follow a decision to pursue secession.
Forever Canadian’s original approach emphasised petitioning the legislature rather than campaigning in a public referendum. But Lukaszuk said recent experience taught the group that petitions and awareness efforts alone may not be sufficient to ensure a representative turnout, prompting the tactical shift.
- 404,293 — verified signatures gathered by Forever Canadian (since July 2025)
- 80,000+ — lawn signs distributed across Alberta
- Weeks — time remaining until Albertans go to the polls
| Activity | Reported figure |
|---|---|
| Verified signatures | 404,293 |
| Lawn signs distributed | 80,000+ |
| Launch date | July 2025 |
Political strategists say efforts to increase turnout tend to benefit whichever side is better organised on the ground; in tightly contested votes, small differences in mobilisation can be decisive. By moving into the formal third‑party role, Forever Canadian is aiming to channel its volunteer base and its existing networks into an explicit voting campaign.
Broader implications for national politics
Alberta’s referendum has implications beyond provincial borders. A vote to remain would reaffirm Alberta’s place within the federation and could defuse talk of secession for the near term. Conversely, a successful push toward a binding referendum on separation would pose unprecedented legal and political challenges for the federal government and other provinces, potentially reshaping discussions about federalism, resource policy and regional grievances.
With the campaign entering an intensified phase, both sides are expected to ramp up outreach in the final weeks. Forever Canadian’s registration formalises its role in that fight — and underscores the high stakes officials and voters alike say are at play.
Coverage will continue as the campaign unfolds and as parties, interest groups and voters react to the newly registered third‑party activities.
