sasharbulj:
At this point MAGA is just Stockholm Syndrome for people who don’t know where Stockholm is.
@greycinder.bsky.social:
That maybe too kind. Maybe MAGA is just a group of stupid, hateful people.
@deonandan.bsky.social:
I have met many of them. They literally revel in the cruelty and villainy. And those are just the ones brazen enough to say it openly.
Yup, I’ve also met many. The Fucker Truckers were MAGA (largely funded by USA) and have now morphed into the Alberta separatists. I was assaulted by a number of MAGA individuals on various days, and later by a group of 11 men, just because I was wearing an N95 mask during a pandemic to protect myself from a brain and body eating virus, and to protect my community from it too. One large asshole slammed me into a closed door, back first. Selfish cruel cowardly stupid greedy fuckers
@nicholasgrossman:
Millions of American voters wanted to be villains. They came to believe it’s the key to success, while goodness is weak, woke, loser stuff, done only to signal.
Offered the option of unvarnished villainy, they enthusiastically took it. Seeing others suffer more made them feel big.Just like the Alberta separatists.
@joedmills2.bsky.social:
Hopefully Gandalf was correct when he said: “Evil ofttimes defeats itself”
@emmettmacfarlane.com:
With arguments today in Alberta litigation on the issue, I am reposting my piece on the 1998 Secession Reference and how the ‘honour the Crown’ principle changes what the Court said.
TLDR: the secession of a province is essentially impossible.
emmettmacfarlane.substack.com/p/is-the-sup…
@philstr.bsky.social:
Agreed from a legal/constitutional aspect, my concern is more about threats from down south and the geopolitical instability that comes along with it.
@emmettmacfarlane.com:
Yes. The Constitution can’t contain external political threats. But my post is for courts, judges, and lawyershere’s lookin’ at you, Keith Wilson, Eva Chipiuk, Jeff Rath et al (is disbarred spy-on-judge thug, John Carpay, from justice centre for constitutional freedoms but only for them, not the rest of us, in on this racket too?) –and hopefully politicians – to consider, if they’re interested in upholding the rule of law!
FN chiefs raise concerns about government and separatist lawyers talking outside of court April 9, 2026 by By Jeremy Appel, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Alberta Native News
A Treaty Rally was held in Edmonton on April 8. Facebook photo.
(ANNews) – On the final day of court submissions aiming to halt the process of initiating an Alberta independence referendum, three First Nations leaders are raising concerns about the perceived proximity of government and separatist lawyers.
On April 9, Justice Shaina Leonard of the Court of King’s Bench heard arguments from lawyers for Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation (ACFN) and Blackfoot Confederacy, as well as the provincial government, Stay Free Alberta CEO Mitch Sylvestre and chief electoral officer Gordon McClure.
ACFN and the Blackfoot nations, consisting of the Piikani, Siksika and Kainai bands, are asking Justice Leonard to order a stay on the chief electoral officer’s counting of the Stay Free Alberta petition signatures until she rules on whether the petition can proceed.
Meanwhile, Sturgeon Lake Cree Nation (SLCN) Chief Sheldon Sunshine and Mikisew Cree First Nation (MCFN) Chief Billy-Joe Tuccaro issued a statement focused on their shared concern that even if the independence referendum is halted in court, Premier Danielle Smith will put it on the ballot in October.
The court heard arguments on April 7 from SLCN, which is asking for an injunction against the section of the Justice Statutes Amendment Act (Bill 14) that amended the Citizen Initiative Act to permit referendums that could violate constitutional rights, including Indigenous rights.
The legislation received royal assent after Court of King’s Bench Justice Colin Feasby ruled that an independence referendum couldn’t proceed under the act as it was then written, because Alberta independence would by definition remove Canadian constitutional protections.
MCFN has also filed a lawsuit against Alberta’s “referendum regime,” which will be heard at a later date.
“In and out of Court, we have watched Alberta’s lawyers openly collaborate with separatist lawyers,” reads the April 9 statement from Chiefs Sunshine and Tuccaro.
“Now it has come to our attention that the Premier will conspire to call the referendum at the demand of the separatists.”
Chief Allan Adam of ACFN posted a photo on Facebook the previous day of separatist lawyer Jeffrey Rath speaking with government lawyers, including Neil Dobson and Jennifer Kelliher, outside the courtroom.
Chief Sunshine told Alberta Native News that he repeatedly saw the team of lawyers enter a private room when they saw him. “It’s just not a good look,” he said.
The apparent collaboration between Rath and the provincial government lawyers reflect the “cozy relationship” between Premier Danielle Smith and the separatist movement, Sunshine added.
Rath previously represented SLCN in an agricultural benefits claim case against the Canadian government, for which Rath received a $28.6-million contingency fee that was overturned in 2024 by the Court of King’s Bench.
Chief Adam told this newspaper that the provincial government “should completely stay neutral from the separatist legal advisors,” likening the separatist movement to “some kind of a cult.” In my view, it is a cult, a cult of hate, MAGAt hate.
“When you see the representatives that are supporting the separation movement, and then you’ve got the province of Alberta lawyers standing beside hand-in-hand talking about what’s going on, what does that tell you?” asked Adam.
Inside the courtroom, lawyer Mary Macaulay, representing Piikani Nation, argued that the chief electoral officer had a “duty to consult” the First Nations whose Treaty rights would be impacted by an independence referendum, because he was acting on behalf of the Crown.
“The duty to consult arises before a decision is made,” she said.
Paul Reid, another lawyer for the Blackfoot Confederacy, argued that McClure should have declared the sections of the Citizen Initiative Act that enabled him to approve the separatist petition “constitutionally defective.”
Dobson argued on behalf of Alberta Justice that there’s no duty to consult at this point in the referendum process, because there’s no guarantee a referendum will occur.
“The only issue that’s under review here is the decision to allow the collection of signatures,” he said. “What harm is the collection of signatures?”FFS, open your eyes and look at what’s happening in Alberta because of Smith’s endless lies and betrayals, and pissing on the rule of law, serving the separatists and their demands at the expense of everyone else; the collecting of signatures and lies by the leaders is fuelling hate, rage and racism; and serves USA after it has repeatedly threatened Canada, terrorizing many ordinary Canadians and First Nations.
Rath told the court that the petition is “nothing more than a legislatively mandated process of communication between the citizens of Alberta and their elected officials in the Legislature.”
“Nobody’s rights have been suspended. Nobody’s rights have been infringed, even the smallest, tiniest little bit by the gathering of signatures,” said Rath.
Echoing Dobson, he argued that the government is under no obligation to ensure that Alberta independence will make it to a referendum.
Rath cited that section one of the Referendum Act, which says that the government “may order that a referendum be held [emphasis added]” on a constitutional issue.
He told Justice Leonard that the First Nations’ lawyers “misled you and have misstated the law” when they argued that the government is obligated to proceed with a citizen-initiated referendum.
“You’d kind of think that [when] people are telling you that the statute says something, they would have read it first,” said Rath.Condescending untrustworthy fucker.
The Referendum Act deals with government-initiated referendums, whereas the Citizen initiative Act relates to referendum petitions.
Ken Hille, a lawyer for the ACFN, noted in response that section 16(1) of the Citizen Initiative Act states that the government “shall refer [emphasis added]” a constitutional referendum petition to a referendum, overriding the discretion in the Referendum Act.
Justice Leonard said that she intends to “work very quickly” on the First Nations’ request for a stay on counting the independence petition signatures, aiming to have a decision on that aspect of the case early next week.
The First Nations’ lawyers requested that Leonard issue her written decision before May 2, the deadline for the collection of signatures.
Hon. Thomas A. Lukaszuk @lukaszukab.bsky.social:
I hate to have to call a Premier a blatant liar, but this is exactly what’s happening.I’ve never heard Smith tell the truth. I bet she lies in her sleep.
There is no means for me to have a “change of mind”. The #ForeverCanadian petition was filed under the “legislative pathway”, not “constitutional” one, which demands a vote in the Legislature.
@chronosschiron.bsky.social:
is she going blonde for trump?
@advdoug.bsky.social:
it seems pretty clear here on the image.
Smith is lying, but it is what she does.
@selek437.bsky.social:
If her lips are moving, she’s lying.
@laurieinyyc.bsky.social:
There has to be some legal recourse when the Premier is not following the process she herself put in place??
@mondoab.bsky.social:
UCP makes the laws. And breaks the laws. And then changes them retroactively.
@ratliw.bsky.social:
She will not only force the separation vote, she is and will dedicate her entire government to corrupting and influencing the vote.likely with hanky panky tech aid by billionaire kid abuser Elon Musk, who begged Epstein for his wildest night.She will also continue to directly work with the US, encouraging them to intervene when the mean liberals don’t facilitate AB’s exit. Don’t be so sure about that. Carney’s a worse traitor than Smith, I see him working to destroy Canada, finishing of for Herr Hideous Harper what he failed to do because we punted his evil racist cruel religious ass. I bet Carney will smile as he hands Trump the keys.She it a traitor.
@bepixie.bsky.social:
She is a pathological liar. Please team up with Guthrie and give us an option. The damage done to health care, education and the environment is going to be irreversible.
@lukaszukab.bsky.social:
In defending separatists’ disregard of Treaties, today Alberta government lawyer submitted to the Court that First Nations can’t stop the referendum as it “does not affect a real situation or real people”.
FIRST NATIONS AREN’T REAL PEOPLE?!
@amirattaran.bsky.social:
Well, that lawyer needs a Law Society complaint. Got a name and a recording please?
@missflangerhanger.bsky.social:
That is appalling!
Also, WHY is a Government lawyer defending this?Because they’ve gone Nazi to serve their kid raping, kid mass murdering Lord Jesus Trump (who is fast losing his MAGA base because they’re outraged at his illegal bombings against Iran driving up prices of everything – they don’t give a shit about him slaughtering thousands of innocents, they just care about money, like the separatists
@frazzleheadlc.bsky.social:
Holy crap – First Nations were here … duh …. FIRST.in my experience, there’s nothing so awful and hate-filled as white christian supremacists
@ratliw.bsky.social:
The AB government using tax money to fight for separatism, while formally declaring their rascism. It may just be a legal term but the UCP means it.
@magichummingbird.bsky.social:
Sickening!
@pardosa.bsky.social:
Surely, the court would question and reject this argument.a non racist judge yes, but there are too many anti Indigenous judges in Canada, especially in redneck republican Alberta
@tantalumhypercube.bsky.social:
the colony has never considered us people. always less than animals.
this is the crown i know…
“If you take this path, we will know you are a separatist. In the face of our Court challenges, we will consider this conduct to be the ultimate, traitorous, and egregious breach of the Honour of the Crown & the Treaty by the Premier and the UCP.”
@thebreakdownab.bsky.social:
From the FB…
If that’s Jeff Rath, this seems…
Fraught?
@gr8fuldad.bsky.social:
Nice ‘sneakers with a suit’ look. Guess dress shoes or, since he likes to pretend he’s a cowboy, boots, would have hurt his gout.My feet were badly damaged when I was a child, they hurt like hell 24/7, especially in shoes, but my ex lead lawyer, Murray Klippenstein, would not allow me to wear my sneakers (less pain) in court.
@ratliw.bsky.social:
Smith plans to simply declare that because the courts are liberal meanies the UCP will proceed regardless. She is a fascist, rascist, homophobic traitor who is working with the US against Canada.
@charlesrusnell.bsky.social:
FYI, it’s illegal to take photos inside a courthouse in Alberta. You can be charged with contempt of court.
@thebreakdownab.bsky.social:
OK yeah but Dani is putting citizenship on drivers licenses so we don’t have to worry about foreign interference…
@canadianinalberta.bsky.social:
& Musk can stay the f*ck out of it
ArtButMakeItNow
Pandemonium (Hell), by John Martin, 1841, photo via Alcides Antunes
@brandywithawhy.bsky.social:
Jesus, Davey boy must have wet his pants getting a reply from his hero.
@david-kidd.bsky.social:
Wouldn’t her version of citizenship be labeled “Albertan”?? No, it’ll be “American,” if Smith, Carney and the separatists get their illegal way.
@vp2024.bsky.social:
To save Alberta start with Smith &UCP incompetencies, very corrupt. Self inflicted wounds of mismanagements. CAD Gov, has given them Billions & now their winning. Absurd!
@redsnoopy69:
A 95% conservativism rate doesn’t prepare you for the future…
The problem with Alberta just might be 83 years of conservative governments in a span of 87 years…
@thebreakdownab.bsky.social:
“In 2026, Alberta’s actions are not only illegal, but they are also consummately irresponsible and dishonourable.”
Alberta making international news again.
Bet this is good for the economy.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/apr/07/first-nation-decries-alberta-separatist-push-canada
@missgiven.bsky.social:
They have the support of a vast majority of Albertans.
We’ll fight for our province, together.
@canadiancontent.bsky.social:
They have the support of a vast majority of Canadians.
@missgiven.bsky.social:
Good.
@missflangerhanger.bsky.social:
Standing with our First Nations!!!
@vanillabn.bsky.social:
They should not have to be fighting this again/still.
@kathryncrooks.bsky.social:
Thank goodness for the First Nations.
@socrates99ab.bsky.social:
I’m on the First Nations’ side. AB separatism is illegal, stupid and harmful for many reasons.
Alberta has lost ‘moral authority’ on protecting treaty rights, lawyer argues in bid to block independence referendum by Matthew Scace, April 9, 2026, The Globe and Mail
A lawyer for a northern Alberta First Nation hoping to persuade the courts to block a potential independence referendum argued Wednesday that the provincial government has lost the “moral authority” to call itself a trusted guardian of treaty rights.
Kevin Hille, counsel for Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation, asked a judge to strike down Elections Alberta’s approval of the active petition trying to force a referendum on whether the province should separate from Canada. He argued that the three-day hearing this week was one of the last opportunities the court may have to uphold treaty rights before Albertans vote.
“Alberta’s pattern of conduct has lost it the moral authority to simply say, ‘Trust us. We’ll get it right next time. We’ll get it right later in this process – wait until the referendum result and we will protect your rights in the implementation of that result,’ ” Mr. Hille told Justice Shaina Leonard in the Court of King’s Bench in Edmonton.
“Alberta has not shown itself to be a reliable or trustworthy treaty partner, or to have the protection and fulfilment of treaty promises at heart at all.”
Mr. Hille’s remarks came on the second day of a hearing where Justice Leonard will decide whether to suspend the pro-independence petition, through which separatists are trying to collect the nearly 178,000 signatures needed to launch a referendum on leaving the country.
While a vote for separation wouldn’t be binding, it would likely lead to fraught negotiations between Alberta and the federal government.
Lawyers for Sturgeon Lake Cree Nation, a band in northern Alberta, asked Justice Leonard on Tuesday to suspend the petition by reinstating constitutional protections that the province has stripped from Alberta’s citizen-initiative legislation.
Athabasca Chipewyan and the Blackfoot Confederacy, meanwhile, are asking the judge to suspend the Alberta chief electoral officer’s approval of the active separatist petition.
Lawyers and separatist advocates Jeffrey Rath and Eva Chipiuk, representing independence proponent Mitch Sylvestre, attended Wednesday’s hearing. They will make oral arguments on Thursday on behalf of Mr. Sylvestre, one of the leaders of Stay Free Alberta, the group behind the provincial independence campaign.
Counsel for the Alberta government and for the province’s chief electoral officer also attended the hearing.
Across the street from the courthouse, hundreds of people gathered in Churchill Square for a rally, carrying signs about respecting treaties and protecting water and land. Canadian flags flapped in the cold spring wind.
Blackfoot Confederacy Chief Troy Knowlton said he met with Premier Danielle Smith and members of her cabinet in Calgary on Tuesday, and that he confronted her about what he called the “political fantasy” of separatism, and the racism he feels has been unleashed against First Nations people and other communities.
“People were asking, why would I meet with her? Well, there’s an old gangster adage that also applies to politicians. You keep your friends close, you keep your enemies closer,” he said, to hoots and cheers from the crowd. “We’ve got to know what their next steps are.”Smith’s a liar, a traitor and floor crosser; she’s proven it’s most unwise to trust anything she says or does, and she’s managed/handled by extreme religion, for that reason alone, she’s untrustworthy.
Alberta separatists making alternative plans to force referendum if they lose court challenge
Inside the courthouse, Mr. Hille’s arguments largely focused on provincial legislation passed last December that nullified a court decision by Justice Colin Feasby. The judge had ruled that transforming provincial and territorial boundaries into international borders would contravene First Nations’ constitutionally protected treaty rights.
The amendment of the Citizen Initiative Act by the government allowed Mr. Sylvestre to resubmit his referendum application, which was then approved by Elections Alberta.
While Alberta Justice Minister Mickey Amery he’s more slimy and untrustworthy than Smith in my viewhas committed to respecting treaty rights no matter the outcome of any referendum, Mr. Hille disputed the notion – particularly if residents vote to separate. At such a point, he argued, the government would be politically bound to pursuing independence.
“We’re on the precipice of rolling into a realm of non-justiciable, purely political considerations and losing court oversight,” Mr. Hille said.
I don’t believe anyone in the separatist group, certainly not the leaders, including Smith, and most especially not Mr. Sylvestre. We need proof before we can believe you.Mr. Sylvestre, one of the independence movement’s key leaders, said last week his group had collected all the signatures needed to force a fall referendum, which will be verified by Elections Alberta after the May 2 deadline.
He recently told The Globe and Mail that he announced the goal had been reached ahead of the deadline in order to apply pressure on the Premier to call a referendum even if Justice Leonard suspends the petition.Such creepy dirty fuckers, the separatist leaders are
With a report from Jana Pruden
@lukaszukab.bsky.social:
Because Governement of Alberta continuously changes the rules on petitions and referenda (sometimes even retroactively) to accommodate the separatists, First Nations and the #ForeverCanadian movement must fight for fairness, Treaty and Charter rights in Court.
Refer also to: