Latest news with #Referendum
CBC
4 days ago
- Politics
- CBC
New Alberta referendum rules looming as calls for separation met with opposition petition
As Canada prepares Tuesday to blow out 158 birthday candles, Alberta plans three days later to formalize rules making it easier to have an independence celebration of its own. Beginning Friday, Premier Danielle Smith's United Conservative government is officially lowering the required threshold for citizens to initiate a provincewide referendum, including on separation. Mitch Sylvestre, CEO of the Alberta Prosperity Project, a non-profit group touring Alberta promoting independence, said he plans to apply to Elections Alberta that same day to start a petition under the new rules. The group aims to gather 177,000 signatures within 120 days to put the question on a ballot to voters: Do you agree the province of Alberta shall become a sovereign country and cease to be a province of Canada? "I would not be surprised if that referendum was held right now that we could possibly even win it," Sylvestre told The Canadian Press. He said many Albertans are skeptical Prime Minister Mark Carney will be able to restore trust after federal policies for years siphoned Alberta's resource riches elsewhere. WATCH | Why Alberta separation is seen as a 'real possibility': Why Alberta separation is seen as a 'real possibility' 2 months ago Duration 2:49 While most Albertans don't want to separate, new polling suggests a majority in the province think it could happen. CBC Calgary's Rob Brown explains the Research Co. findings. The online survey was conducted with 1,201 voters between April 27 and 29, 2025. It carries a margin of error of +/- 2.8 percentage points, 19 times out of 20. At the same time, Thomas Lukaszuk, a former Progressive Conservative deputy premier in Alberta, is working to thwart that separatist effort. Lukaszuk, now out of politics, argues that Alberta's rules do not allow for two competing petitions on the same issue. "There's only one petition at a time, so mine precludes theirs," he said. Lukaszuk has already applied to start a petition under the existing law, which would require 600,000 signatures. If his application to Elections Alberta is approved, he's confident that enough Albertans would sign their name to have the provincial government declare its official policy is to remain within Canada. Sylvestre said he will be submitting papers for the second time on Friday. He said he believes Lukaszuk's petition effort might delay the push for Alberta independence but believes it will fail to gather so many signatures within the old threshold of 90 days. Recent polls have suggested that support for separatism in Alberta hasn't reached majority territory. But, Sylvestre said, interest in holding an independence referendum is growing with each speaking event they organize. "The more people that hear what the message is, the more people that will be in favour," he said. WATCH | What could Alberta separation mean for First Nations in the province? What could Alberta separation mean for First Nations in the province? 1 month ago Duration 7:52 Chief political correspondent Rosemary Barton speaks with Chief Tony Alexis of the Alexis Nakota Sioux Nation about how Alberta separation threats violate First Nations treaty rights and how the government is not going far enough to protect those communities. Elections Alberta has said each application is evaluated in the order received but cannot comment on the applications submitted so far. Legal experts say a vote to sever ties with Canada would toss the country into uncharted waters, potentially prompting complex negotiations among governments and First Nations. Smith's government introduced the bill quickly after Carney's election victory earlier this year but said it would have been proposed regardless of the outcome. In defending her legislation, Smith said the growing number of Albertans unhappy with Confederation are right to be frustrated, and she wants to see more opportunities for direct democracy. She has long said she wants her province to be sovereign within a united Canada. That's a phrase Lukaszuk calls meaningless. "That's like me saying, 'I am single within the confines of my marriage,"' he said. Asked earlier this week what her government could do to quell separatist aspirations, Smith said it was Ottawa's responsibility to reverse policies she said stifle energy production and investment in Alberta. In recent months, she has called for Carney to abolish several federal policies and programs, including a proposed greenhouse gas emissions cap, net-zero electricity grid regulations and the West Coast tanker ban. "This is really in Ottawa's hands," Smith said Thursday. While Lukaszuk said Smith is entitled to negotiate with the federal government, she shouldn't use the threat of secession as leverage.
Daily Mail
5 days ago
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Victoria sparks outrage over 'Voice to Parliament' move despite majority of residents voting No in the referendum
A plan to expand an Indigenous advisory body in Victoria has been slammed, with critics warning it will essentially create a state-based version of the Voice. The First Peoples' Assembly will be permanently enshrined in legislation this year, allowing it to have a say on all laws and policies that affect Indigenous Australians, ranging from health, education, crime, and development. Prominent Indigenous leader Warren Mundine described it as 'nonsense' and said it went against what Victorians voted for in the referendum. The Voice to Parliament was shot down, with 66.1 per cent of Australians voting No in the referendum on October 14, 2023. Victoria recorded the lowest number of No votes of any state with 54.15 per cent, while Queensland recorded the highest at 68.2 per cent, followed by Western Australia at 63.2 per cent. 'It got voted down in Victoria by Victorians and now they are ignoring that democratic process,' Mundine told the Herald Sun. Premier Jacinta Allan defended the expansion of the assembly on Monday and said it was not about 'changing the constitution'. 'The key difference to the referendum that was put nationwide a couple of years ago, is that was about changing the constitution,' she said. 'This is not changing the Victorian constitution, it's simply taking a common sense approach. 'It's sitting the First Peoples' Assembly – an ongoing representative body – into our existing parliamentary structures (and) the significant change is it will be a body where we will be listening (and) taking on their advice.' The assembly was initially created in 2018 to represent Indigenous Australians during the Treaty process with the Victorian government. Official talks between the Victorian government and the assembly kicked off in November. As well as a Statewide Treaty, there will be separate Traditional Owner Treaties in regions across Victoria to ensure 'local knowledge can inform decision-making at a community level'. The assembly operates like a parliament, with 33 members directly elected by Indigenous Victorians and paid at least $96,946. Gunditjmara respected person Aunty Jill Gallagher hit back at Mundine, telling him to 'stay in his own state' and 'look after his own mob'. She said it was time for Indigenous Victorians to have more of a say. 'The most important thing is we have an independent voice, which can start making and monitoring government policies and hold them to account,' she said. She argued the Voice referendum was politicised and awash with 'misinformation', stating that if Victorians fully understood what they were asking for, they would have supported it. Minister for Treaty and First Peoples Natalie Hutchins told The Herald Sun the permanent assembly was a practical way for Aboriginal people to have a say about the policies that impact Aboriginal health, housing and education.
ABC News
16-06-2025
- Politics
- ABC News
President Toroama ino wanbel long toktok blong PM Marape
President Ishmael Toroama itok, Autonomous Bougainville Gavman na pipol blong Bougainville oli less pinis long pasin Praim Minista James Marape na Gavman blongen ibin wok long dileim Independence blong Bougainville. President Toroama itok pipol blong Bougainville ibin pait, oli mekim planti sakrifais, oli dai na oli vout long kamap independent. So em itok, sapos ol displa Moderation Consultation ino mekim klia or ino mekim fainol disisin long independence, orait bai Bougainville i bihainim ol narapela option or rot blong kamap independent. Mr Toroama i mekim displa toktok bihain long namba 3 moderation toktok long Burnham military base blong New Zealand long last wik wantaim Papua New Guinea Gavman. Em i sutim tok olsem ibin PNG Gavman ibin wok long dileim displa issu blong Bougainville Independence. Em itok Gavman blongen i bilip olsem PNG Gavman ilaik dileim independence, long hope olsem bai gat senis blong gavman long ABG eleksen. Tasol President Toroama itok, nasinol gavman imas save olsem displa Bougainville Constituent Assembly bai em i bung long last wik blong June, we em i tok bai ol iken adoptim displa Bougainville Independence Constitution na setim date blong namba 1 September 2027 olsem Independence Day. Em itok, bai nogat nid long holim narapela raun blong Moderation Consultation sapos Constituent Assembly i disaed olsem. Mr Toroama itok, displa 2019 Referendum we oli holim aninit long PNG Constitution, em i askim tupla kwesten tasol, wanpla em Greater Autonomy or Independence - na 97.7% oli laikim independence. Olsem na em itok, ABG em i kondemim hau PNG Gavman iwok long tok olsem outcome blong referendum em i "non-binding". Mr Toroama itok wanpla bikpla disappointmen blong ABG em long kain we displa moderation process iwok long kamapim gen tingting blong sampla narapela kain model blong Gavman em Bougainville iken bihainim - olsem free association na feferated states. Em itok, Bougainville bai no akseptim narapela kain model laikim tasol independence olsem oli tok pinis long referendum.
RNZ News
09-06-2025
- Politics
- RNZ News
Bougainville independence talks underway at military camp near Christchurch
Photo: RNZ/Nathan McKinnon Bougainville independence talks have started just outside of Christchurch, in New Zealand's South Island, between the governments of Papua New Guinea and Bougainville. In 2019, 97.7 percent of Bougainvilleans voted for independence. The referendum, though mandated by the 2001 Peace Agreement, was not binding. Both governments are now debating the rules by which the results of a referendum on independence are tabled in parliament. The discussions at Christchurch's Burnham Military Camp focus on finalising the process to bring the referendum results before PNG's Parliament. Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape called Burnham the spiritual home of the Bougainville peace process . The military camp hosted pivotal talks in 1997 that helped end the Bougainville civil war. Marape said the Era Kone Convenant committed both governments to present the referendum before PNG's parliament in 2025. Bougainville has stated that it expects to be independent by 1 September 2027. It has established a Constitution Commission and included it within the region's autonomous parliament. The Christchurch meetings are closed to the media. New Zealand's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade refused to share with RNZ Pacific a list of who will be attending the meeting.
The Journal
05-06-2025
- Business
- The Journal
Dozens of politicians' print requests refused, including 2,000-page document for Simon Harris
TDS AND SENATORS have had dozens of print jobs refused by the Oireachtas over the last few years. Politicians at Leinster House are entitled to have tens of thousands of items printed for free every year to help promote their work. However, a strict policy is in place that covers only 'parliamentary duties' and not material related to elections, political parties, or fellow candidates. Between 2022 and 2024, a total of 125 print jobs were rejected by the Oireachtas for a variety of different reasons. Records released under FOI show that Fianna Fáil were behind more than half the refused batches – 67 in total. Fine Gael had 22 print jobs refused, Labour 11 and Sinn Féin 8; there were also lower numbers recorded for other smaller groupings or Independents. High-profile political figures were among those who had printing rejected with three jobs refused for Public Expenditure Minister Jack Chambers. Little detail was provided on the reasons why, with Oireachtas records simply saying they were not in line with the 'service level agreement.' Both Tánaiste Simon Harris and Justice Minister Jim O'Callaghan had a single print job refused. Harris' 2,000-page-print job was rejected as outside the bounds of the 'service level agreement' while Mr O'Callaghan's newsletter was declined due to 'overtelectioneering.' Advertisement Former Taoiseach Leo Varadkar also had a 5,000-batch constituency update refused during 2023 – it was simply marked 'rejected' in the Oireachtas files with no further information provided. There were other reasons for refusal too with one newsletter denied because it breached rules about the promotion of a business. A note said this was based on: 'Material which is or could be construed as being related to or promoting a private commercial endeavour, for example a newsletter which promotes, whether directly or indirectly, a company, business or product.' Another was refused because it was considered to be promotion of a political party. It said that was covered by rules covering a ban on 'political party/independent members' corporate material e.g. headquarter type printing, such as application forms for party membership; material which is either directly or indirectly aimed at party fundraising; information notes to party members.' Other jobs were rejected for more banal reasons including faulty file types, defective documents, and one case where a senator exceeded their monthly printing allowance. One job for a batch of 1,500 printed leaflets was refused because it contained information on an upcoming referendum. A note on the file said: 'It is the responsibility of the members and qualifying political parties to ensure that items printed in the printing facility that could be said to be designed to influence voters on how to vote in a Referendum are not distributed after the passage of a [bill].' Fianna Fáil's John Lahart, who had four separate jobs refused, said: 'I don't remember the specific ones offhand, but it often relates to materials about councillors. 'We have had generic material sent back and generally where that might be about the Fianna Fáil team in our area and they would have come back and said that wasn't allowed.' Under Leinster House's printing policy, jobs can also be declined where they have information that could be considered a crime or encouraging others to commit a crime. However, there were no refusals under that section according to the documents that were released. Asked about the records, the Oireachtas said it had no further comment to make. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
