Alberta referendum forum brings out Kenney, pro-independence lawyer, constitutional advocate
Three prominent panelists face off over separation and immigration questions as U of A students weigh in on Oct. 19 ballot.
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Update — October 04, 2026: Constitutional advocate Daymond Khan told the forum gathering that Alberta's separation debate reflects a collision between two visions of Canada—one rooted in shared history and culture, and another built on openness and integration—with Khan arguing that federal policies have eroded the former vision that Albertans once felt they owned. Khan cited the removal of Vimy Ridge images from Canadian passports as a symbol of abandonment of shared Canadian history, and said the conversation around separation shifted about a decade ago from resource and autonomy issues into fundamental questions about Canadian identity.
A panel at the University of Alberta tonight will pit three major voices against each other over Alberta's October 19 referendum, which asks voters 10 questions including separation and immigration.
Former premier Jason Kenney will argue for staying in Canada, while Keith Wilson, an Edmonton-area lawyer and leader of pro-independence group Let Alberta Decide, will make the case for separation. Family lawyer and Alberta Order of Excellence recipient Marie Gordon will advocate for remaining in Canada to preserve constitutional order and protect individual rights.
The event runs 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. at U of A, moderated by Tara McCarthy of CBC Edmonton AM, and will be livestreamed on TikTok, YouTube and online through a partnership with the University of Alberta Students' Union. The panel is a closed campus event.
For student voters, the stakes feel personal. Melanie Osuzan, 21, whose parents immigrated from the Democratic Republic of the Congo as teenagers, said the immigration question cuts to the heart of who belongs. "The question is based on whether permanent residents should receive the same services as all of us, and yet they contribute taxes every single day. And they are people. They're human beings," she said. Her father is a welder. "Not realizing that he is the immigrant they're talking about. He is the person 'stealing all of our jobs, taking all of our tax money,'" she added. Osuzan plans to vote to stay in Canada.
Naomi Metz, 19, a mechanical engineering student, said she feels "really scared for that mood especially in Alberta." She called the constitutional questions troubling. "It gets a little sketchy when you start messing with the Constitution," Metz said, and plans to vote to remain part of Canada.
Osuzan offered a broader appeal across the divide: "Whether or not you're separatists or federalists, we both need to be heard and both groups need to come together for solutions. Division is a powerful technique used by people who don't want us to be successful."
The facts
Who are the three panelists at the University of Alberta forum?
Former premier Jason Kenney, who argues for staying in Canada; Keith Wilson, an Edmonton-area lawyer and leader of pro-independence group Let Alberta Decide, who makes the case for separation; and Marie Gordon, a family lawyer and Alberta Order of Excellence recipient, who advocates for remaining in Canada to preserve constitutional order and protect individual rights.
What time does the panel run?
The event runs from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the University of Alberta.
How many questions are on Alberta's referendum?
The referendum asks voters 10 questions, including questions on separation and immigration.
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