An Alberta Court of Appeal judge granted a partial stay allowing Elections Alberta to verify Stay Free Alberta petition signatures while the appeal proceeds.
Claimed by: Court of Appeal decision, June 29, 2026; CBC News and Edmonton Journal reporting
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Summary
On June 29, 2026, Court of Appeal Justice Alice Woolley granted a partial stay pending appeal of Justice Shaina Leonard's May ruling that quashed approval of the Stay Free Alberta independence petition. Woolley ruled the chief electoral officer may verify the petition signatures and report results publicly, finding that delaying verification would cause irreparable harm to the petition organizers while allowing verification causes no significant harm to the First Nations challenging the petition. She did not allow further steps that could see the petition proceed to a constitutional referendum, noting a full stay risked a referendum before the appeal is decided. Woolley declined to order an expedited hearing and noted no date for the full appeal has been set. Leonard's underlying ruling remains in effect on all other issues.
Evidence
On June 29, 2026, Woolley issued a partial stay allowing signature verification and public reporting of results, but not referral to the justice minister or lieutenant governor that could trigger a constitutional referendum.
Woolley found Stay Free Alberta would suffer irreparable harm from delaying verification, including signatories dying or moving, while verification causes no significant harm to First Nations challengers.
Woolley declined to order an expedited appeal hearing and noted neither Stay Free Alberta nor the government had taken court steps beyond filing notices of appeal.
Related claims
- Alberta can call an independence referendum without consulting First Nations.False
- If 10% of Albertans sign a citizen initiative petition, the government must hold a binding referendum on that question.False
- The Alberta government appealed the court ruling that quashed the Stay Free Alberta separation petition.True
- An Alberta Court of Appeal judge overturned the ruling that quashed the Stay Free Alberta separation petition.False
- Elections Alberta began verifying signatures on the Stay Free Alberta independence petition in July 2026.True