Former Alberta politician Thomas Lukaszuk founded Alberta Forever Canada five months ago to combat the rising Alberta independence movement. The group's goal was to ensure that Alberta remains a part of Canada. However, in an unexpected turn of events, Lukaszuk's efforts may have inadvertently sparked Alberta's first-ever vote on secession from Canada. This week, Alberta Forever Canada announced it has gathered the 293,976 signatures required to initiate a referendum under the Alberta Citizen Initiative Act. Elections Alberta confirmed that voters may soon be asked, "Do you agree that Alberta should remain in Canada?" This question essentially reverses the one proposed by separatists, who have been advocating for a referendum asking, "Do you agree that the Province of Alberta shall become a Sovereign Country and cease to be a province in Canada?" The implications of a referendum initiated by Alberta Forever Canada would mirror those of a separatist-led vote. Alberta Premier Danielle Smith previously indicated that the petition would lead to a "separatist referendum," stating, "If you ask people if you want to remain in Alberta, yes or no, there are implications if people answer no." Separatists are viewing the Alberta Forever Canada petition as a win. Pro-independence lawyer Keith Wilson expressed gratitude on social media, thanking the group for facilitating a referendum on independence. In a November interview, Wilson remarked, "He did not think this through. It’s quite remarkable." As the petition approached its goal in October, Lukaszuk shifted his narrative, claiming the intent was to avoid a referendum. He stated, "We knew that the vast majority of Albertans want to remain Canadian. Hence, we are not asking for a referendum." He criticized the idea of a referendum as a divisive measure that would further polarize the province. Despite these claims, the petition's language suggests otherwise. In his application submitted to Elections Alberta in June, Lukaszuk acknowledged that a referendum seemed imminent and proposed the question about remaining in Canada. Even with the petition certified, a referendum is not guaranteed. The Alberta Legislative Assembly could still vote against it. This week, Lukaszuk urged legislators to disregard the petition's call for a referendum, framing it instead as a plea to avoid a divisive vote. He stated, "Almost a quarter of a million Albertans who signed the petition are sending a clear message to Premier Danielle Smith: Do the right thing. Say no to a divisive and destructive referendum on separatism." Lukaszuk has previously suggested that the petition should prompt Smith to bring the issue to the legislature for a vote, aiming to resolve the matter once and for all. However, if legislators ignore the petition, separatists could still initiate another referendum through their own petition. If the Alberta Forever Canada petition leads to a ballot question on independence, it would mark the third time in Canadian history that a province has voted on its status within Canada. The previous instances were the Quebec referendums in 1980 and 1995, both organized by separatists. **In Other News** Tim Hortons has been identified as a significant user of Temporary Foreign Workers (TFWs). JobWatchCanada reports 58 active listings for TFWs at Tim Hortons, citing an inability to find Canadian workers. Some positions offer wages of $36 per hour, including assistant manager roles in Campbell River, B.C., and Cambridge, Ont. Documents indicate that Tim Hortons has actively lobbied the government for increased access to TFWs, highlighting the food service industry's struggles during the pandemic. A letter sent to the immigration minister in 2024 noted, "The food service industry sector was disproportionately hard hit by the pandemic and continues to face unprecedented labour shortages." Recently, a Tim Hortons delegation met with multiple MPs to discuss labor challenges in the restaurant industry.