A Calgary judge is not going to let Elections Alberta run out the clock.

The case centres on Forever Canadian — the federalist third party advertiser behind the "remain" side of Alberta's October 19 referendum. While every independence-side advertiser files weekly financial disclosures accounting for every dollar in and every dollar out, Forever Canadian has operated a tour bus, two campaign offices, thousands of lawn signs, volunteers across the province, and two benefit concerts including one headlined by Jann Arden — and has declared zero expenditures and zero donations.

Rebel News filed a 241-page complaint with Elections Alberta on July 24. The commissioner did nothing for 48 days. So Rebel News went to court.

Today's hearing was short but consequential.

The judge directed Williamson Law, acting for Rebel News, to write to Associate Chief Justice Nixon requesting an expedited hearing. Rebel News's documents must be filed by Wednesday.

Crucially, the judge also put a Friday deadline on the opposing side's response to the expedited hearing request — a direct signal that the court will not allow Forever Canadian to drag the proceedings past the referendum vote.

There was one notable sidebar. The lawyer representing Forever Canadian in these proceedings is Brent Rathgeber — a former Conservative MP from St. Albert who resigned from Stephen Harper's caucus in 2013, citing concerns that the party wasn't transparent enough.

He is now in court arguing to keep Forever Canadian's finances opaque from Albertans ahead of a province-wide vote.

Williamson Law will be working quickly to get their documents before the Associate Chief Justice ahead of Wednesday's deadline. To read the full originating application, our 363-page affidavit, and all supporting documents — and to help cover the legal costs — visit StopTheCheaters.com.