Hearing on injunction filed by First Nation to stop Alberta separation to begin today

EDMONTON — A First Nation in Alberta will be in court today seeking to shut down a petition urging the province to quit Confederation.

The Sturgeon Lake Cree Nation is in Edmonton asking a Court of King’s Bench judge to suspend the petition campaign on the grounds First Nations’ consent is required first.

It is alleging a failure by Alberta, Canada and the province’s chief electoral officer to uphold treaty rights.

A group named Stay Free Alberta is collecting signatures to qualify for a referendum on Alberta leaving Canada.