Politics · Canada · 2 hrs ago
Danielle Smith to call UCP officials refusing anti-separatism pledge
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith plans to call UCP officials who refuse to sign a pledge against advocating for separation.
The pledge asks party officials to publicly respect last month’s referendum result, in which Albertans voted against holding a binding separation vote.
The party’s executive director asked all 87 constituency association presidents to sign a new code of conduct by Friday.
Fifteen presidents say they will not sign, arguing the requirement punishes them for free speech.
Smith says this is not a free-speech issue and wants her party to work together to win next year’s provincial election.
She has not said whether refusers will lose their roles, so their status remains unclear.
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says she plans to call United Conservative Party officials who refuse to sign an anti-separatism pledge.
The pledge asks officials to publicly respect the result of last month’s referendum, in which Albertans voted against holding a binding separation vote.
Fifteen constituency association presidents say they will not sign, arguing the requirement punishes them for free speech.
Smith says the dispute is not about free speech and wants the party to work as a team ahead of next year’s provincial election.
She has not said whether officials who refuse to sign will be removed from their roles.
- Who
- Alberta Premier Danielle Smith and United Conservative Party officials who refuse to sign the pledge.
- What
- Smith plans to call the officials. They oppose signing a pledge to publicly respect the referendum result.
- When
- Smith said this on November 13, 2026. The officials were asked to sign by the end of Friday.
- Where
- Alberta.
- Why
- Smith says she wants the UCP to work as a team to win next year’s provincial election. The officials say the requirement punishes them for free speech.
Danielle Smith and the UCP executive
15 UCP constituency association presidents
Pledge
Danielle Smith and the UCP executive
Officials have been asked to sign a code of conduct and publicly respect the referendum result.
15 UCP constituency association presidents
They say they will not sign the pledge.
Reason
Danielle Smith and the UCP executive
Smith says the issue is not about free speech and wants the party to work as a team.
15 UCP constituency association presidents
They argue the requirement amounts to punishment for free speech.
Albertans voted against holding a binding separation vote in a referendum.
UCP constituency association presidents were asked to sign the new code of conduct.
Smith said she plans to call party officials who refuse to sign the pledge.
- Refusing officials
- 15 UCP constituency association presidents
- Officials asked
- All 87 UCP constituency association presidents
- Pledge deadline
- End of Friday
- Referendum result
- Albertans voted against holding a binding separation vote
- Published
- November 13, 2026
What people are saying
it’s not an issue of free speech
I want the UCP to work as a team to win next year’s provincial election