Legal experts say First Nations leaders cannot legally block a citizen-led Alberta separation vote — even if treaties are involved.

Premier Danielle Smith responded to the backlash this week, reaffirming that no referendum can infringe on constitutional or treaty rights — but also emphasizing that if 177,000 Albertans sign a petition, the province must respect the result.

Smith also told Ontario Premier Doug Ford to butt out of Alberta’s business after he criticized Western separatism, saying she doesn’t tell him how to run his province and expects the same respect in return.

An exclusive True North investigation also profiles the key players leading Alberta’s growing sovereignty movement, from the Alberta Prosperity Project to Take Back Alberta and several newly energized political parties.

All that and more on this week’s episode of The Alberta Roundup with Isaac Lamoureux.

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