Alberta Fact Check

Fact Check: At a Calgary press conference about improving surgical access, Premier Danielle Smith fielded a question about the costs of provincial independence with some figures that could be considered misleading or exaggerated. FULL FACT CHECK: rebelne.ws/4xaC15c

Fact Check: A spokeswoman for Elections Alberta explained that because Lukaszuk's proposal did not seek to amend the Constitution or introduce new legislation, the only category available under Alberta law was a policy proposal. rebelne.ws/4o5rGTO

Fact Check: It is true that some capital expenditures would be required if Alberta were to become independent, but operational costs would come from what the province no longer would be transferring outward in federal taxes, however. rebelne.ws/43HXxAt

Fact Check: Supporters of Alberta's independence movement spend an extraordinary amount of time debating facts, history, constitutional questions, economics, and federal-provincial relations. rebelne.ws/4ugJOLX

Fact Check: There's no evidence to support Nenshi's claim that Danielle Smith is conspiring with Alberta separatists. rebelne.ws/4ubq9Nk

Fact Check: While a King’s Court justice has determined that petitioning for an independence referendum has clashed with the duty to consent with Indigenous peoples, it hasn’t stated that provincial independence would violate or invalidate treaties. FULL FACT CHECK: rebelne.ws/4x11lu1

Fact Check: There is no reason to suggest the U.S. would use its military to intervene in Canada's affairs. FULL FACT CHECK: rebelne.ws/4vgkdn7

Fact Check: While a King’s Court justice has determined that petitioning for an independence referendum has clashed with the duty to consent with Indigenous peoples, it hasn’t stated that provincial independence would violate or invalidate treaties. rebelne.ws/4x11lu1

Fact Check: Albertans can decide for themselves whether that's a principled position — or simply a double standard. FULL FACT CHECK: rebelne.ws/4vroKDz

Fact Check: There is no reason to suggest the U.S. would use its military to intervene in Canada's affairs. rebelne.ws/4vpBKcU

Fact Check: Former Conservative strategist Dimitri Soudas is the latest commentator trying to convince Albertans that even discussing sovereignty is too complicated to contemplate. FULL FACT CHECK: rebelne.ws/4foTArL

Fact Check: Frank Graves once urged Liberals to fight a culture war against Alberta using American political stereotypes. Today, he warns that American influence is shaping Alberta politics. rebelne.ws/3Qa97Bk

Fact Check: The former Conservative communications director presents a daunting list of post-independence negotiations, but much of it consists of routine state-building issues, while some items don't even apply to a landlocked province. rebelne.ws/439JzqZ

Several public figures are claiming the United Conservative Party is bound by a statement of principles to retain loyalty to a united Canada. rebelnews.com/alberta_fact_c…

Editor’s Note: That was part of an initial Agreement in Principle, which had been proposed to bring the Wildrose and Progressive Conservative parties together in a merger. That proposal for a statement on unity was debated and rejected by the founding UCP members.

Editor’s Note: That was part of an initial Agreement in Principle, which had been proposed to bring the Wildrose and Progressive Conservative parties together in a merger. That proposal for a statement on unity was debated and rejected by the founding UCP members. It was never enshrined in the party's principles. Peter McCaffrey, who served on the policy committee during the party’s founding, has repeatedly corrected the record on the issue. This does not make the UCP a secessionist party. But there is no truth to the claim that the current party is bound by a statement of principles to retain loyalty to a united Canada.

Editor’s Note: That was part of an initial Agreement in Principle, which had been proposed to bring the Wildrose and Progressive Conservative parties together in a merger. That proposal for a statement on unity was debated and rejected by the founding UCP members. It was never enshrined in the party's principles. Peter McCaffrey, who served on the policy committee during the party’s founding, has repeatedly corrected the record on the issue. This does not make the UCP a secessionist party. But there is no truth to the claim that the current party is bound by a statement of principles to retain loyalty to a united Canada.

Fact Check: Multiple public figures have falsely stated that the United Conservative Party (UCP) has a clause in its founding principles calling for loyalty within a united Canada. rebelne.ws/3PYF6US

The only way the October referendum could blow its budget by as much as 500 percent, as Nenshi purports, is if Nenshi himself managed the process. albertafactcheck.com/fact_check_nen…

FACT CHECK: On CTV’s Power Play, NDP leader Naheed Nenshi said, “This referendum is going to cost anywhere between fifty and a hundred million dollars.”

Globe and Mail headline claims 700,000 Albertans who signed petitions are 'illusory' albertafactcheck.com/alberta_fact_c…

FACT CHECK: Over 700,000 Albertans signed petitions calling for a referendum on independence.