Former Alberta deputy premier Thomas Lukaszuk once promoted his Forever Canadian campaign as a way for Albertans to vote to remain in Canada. Now that a referendum is scheduled, he is calling the vote “tragic” and says the issue should have been settled by politicians in the legislature.

Speaking during a Forever Canada Unity Bus stop in Barrhead, Lukaszuk said he hoped his successful citizen-initiative petition would lead the provincial government to adopt remaining in Confederation as official policy.

“I was hoping that the premier would do the right thing and actually resolve this in a legislature, but she insists on having a referendum, which is quite tragic,” Lukaszuk said.https://www.international.gc.ca/trade-commerce/controls-controles/reports-rapports/military-goods-2019-marchandises-militaries.aspx?lang=eng

In a May 2025 Forever Canadian news release, Lukaszuk said, “Our referendum question means Albertans can vote YES and affirm their desire to stay Canadian.”

Go Ad Free

That is a significant shift from how he previously promoted the campaign. Albertans remember, even if Lukaszuk wants us to forget. 

He also publicly described his campaign as getting ahead of separatists by registering a pro-Canada referendum question first.

His petition asked, “Do you agree that Alberta should remain in Canada?” It ultimately produced 404,293 verified signatures, according to Elections Alberta.

Lukaszuk later argued that he wanted MLAs to vote on the proposal rather than putting the question directly to Albertans. The government-appointed committee reviewing the petition instead recommended that voters be allowed to answer it themselves.

Lukaszuk wanted a vote when he believed it would affirm Alberta’s place in Canada. Faced with a ballot that will also allow Albertans to consider the independence question, he now wants politicians to close the debate without consulting them.