LAKELAND - As momentum grows for the Forever Canadian Petition, more dates and locations for Lakeland residents to sign are being added by volunteer canvassers.
The petition asks: “Do you agree that Alberta should remain in Canada?”
According to Thomas Lukasuk, former deputy premier and the organizer of the Forever Canadian movement, they now have more than 3,500 people canvassing across Alberta.
“Wherever they set up a table to collect signatures, lineups form almost immediately. So, there's a lot of enthusiasm out there,” said Lukasuk.
Because of how early in the collection period it is, Lukasuk was unable to provide an estimate for how many of the 300,000 signatures required have already been collected. Forever Canadian has until Oct. 28 to collect the full number of signatures.
The criteria to collect signatures are the same as the criteria to sign the petition. Canvassers must be at least 18 years old, Canadian citizens, and residents of Alberta. People wanting to volunteer can sign up through the website forever-canadian.ca and receive their official credentials from Elections Alberta in the mail.
“It's about a five-day turnaround process now, and we need as many signature collectors on the ground as possible. And whether they collect 10 signatures or 1,000 signatures, everyone is appreciated, because that's how we're going to reach the 300,000,” said Lukasuk.
Asked about complaints of separatists signing the petition to invalidate it, Lukasuk said he is keeping his focus on collecting signatures.
“If they want to play monkey business, they can. Elections Alberta will be going through all the signatures and through all the petition’s signature collectors, making sure that the process is valid. But you know, if [the separatists’] game is doing pranks and cheating, then that tells you what calibre of individuals we're dealing with, and it should stand as a warning,” said Lukasuk.
Below is a list of Lakeland region petition locations, organized by date and community and taken from the listings on the Forever Canadian website.
Aug. 27
Bonnyville – 4712 – 47 Ave (Bonny Lodge Area) from 12:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Boyle – Value Drug Mart from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Aug. 28
Boyle – Value Drug Mart from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Cold Lake – Community Registration & Information Night at Cold Lake Energy Centre from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Elk Point – Allied Arts Centre Farmers’ Market from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Kehewin Cree Nation – Kehewin Gas Station and Store #123 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Lac La Biche – Across from the Post Office from 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Aug. 29
Bonnyville – 4915 – 50 Ave, Main Street down from TD Bank from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Lac La Biche – Across from the Post Office from 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Lac La Biche – LaBone’s from 5:45 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Vegreville – Co-op Food Store from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Vegreville – Centennial Library from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Aug. 30
Cold Lake – Kinosoo Beach, Gazebo by Basketball Courts from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
St. Paul – Town of St. Paul Municipal Library from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Aug. 31
Cold Lake – Kinosoo Beach, Gazebo by Basketball Courts from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
St. Paul – Town of St. Paul Municipal Library from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Sept. 3
Elk Point – Elk Point Community Awareness Night, Allied Arts Centre, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Cold Lake – Kinosoo Beach, Gazebo by Basketball Courts from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Sept. 4
Bonnyville – Bonnyville & District Centennial Centre, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Sept. 6
Bonnyville – Corner of Lakeshore Drive & 55 Street from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
