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ConstitutionFalse

Premier Danielle Smith and the UCP government committed treason by pushing Alberta's October 2026 separation referendum.

Claimed by: Assembly of Treaty Chiefs resolution, June 16, 2026

False: False as written according to the settled evidence. How we rate.

Summary

On June 16, 2026, the Assembly of Treaty Chiefs representing Treaties 6, 7, and 8 unanimously asked the RCMP and the Auditor General to investigate whether Premier Danielle Smith and UCP government members had committed treason under section 46 of the Criminal Code. The chiefs cited intentional treaty violations, the decision to call a referendum despite risks to Canada's sovereignty and the treaty relationship, inaction on the leaked voter list affecting millions of people, and exposure of the province to foreign interference. Smith called the accusation disgraceful and said such language has no place in democratic debate. The investigation request is real and reflects a serious treaty-rights grievance, but asking police to investigate is not the same as proving a crime. Treason under section 46 is a very high bar: the offence covers assisting an enemy at war with Canada or communicating military or scientific information to another state without lawful authority. Holding a non-binding referendum on separation is recognized as lawful political activity under the Supreme Court's 1998 Secession Reference, not criminal treason. Breaching treaty obligations or the honour of the Crown raises constitutional grievances enforceable in court, not Criminal Code offences. The closest connection to the statute is foreign financing. In January, B.C. Premier David Eby said separatists seeking U.S. help to break up Canada would amount to treason, pointing to reported meetings about a possible $500-billion U.S. credit line, but even that involves movement figures rather than Smith directly, and the United States is not an enemy at war with Canada under the statute. The voter-list leak and inadequate First Nations consultation on the Stay Free Alberta petition are separate legal problems the RCMP and courts are already dealing with, but as privacy, electoral-law, and constitutional matters rather than treason.

Evidence

  • On June 16, 2026, the Assembly of Treaty Chiefs unanimously passed a resolution asking the RCMP and Auditor General to investigate whether Smith and UCP members committed treason under section 46, citing treaty violations, the separation referendum, the voter-list leak, and risks of foreign interference.

    APTN News (Treaty Chiefs treason investigation demand)

  • Section 46 of the Criminal Code defines treason as, among other things, assisting an enemy at war with Canada or, without lawful authority, communicating military or scientific information to an agent of a foreign state.

    Criminal Code, section 46 (Justice Laws)

  • The Supreme Court held in 1998 that a province cannot secede unilaterally but that a clear majority on a clear question creates a constitutional duty to negotiate, confirming secession by referendum as a recognized political and constitutional process rather than a criminal act.

    Supreme Court of Canada, Reference re Secession of Quebec (1998)

  • Smith called the treason accusation disgraceful at a news conference, saying such language has no place in democratic discussion; the RCMP said it was aware of the chiefs' request.

    CTV News (Smith responds to treason investigation call)

  • In January 2026, B.C. Premier David Eby said Alberta separatists meeting with U.S. officials and seeking financial backing to break up Canada would amount to treason, reacting to reports of meetings about a possible $500-billion U.S. credit line if Alberta separated.

    CBC News (Eby on Alberta separatism and treason)

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Last reviewed: June 17, 2026