Edmonton city councillor Michael Janz says he will seek to rename part of 99th Avenue near the Alberta legislature to “Forever Canadian Avenue,” linking the idea to a pro-federalist “Forever Canadian” petition that was verified by election officials in Decembe
When Edmonton city councillor Michael Janz announced Sunday he wants a red-and-white “Forever Canadian” street sign near the Alberta legislature, he framed it as a welcome for visitors and a message to Albertans who have been drawn into the province’s separation debate.
Janz said he will be submitting an application to rename the portion of 99th Avenue adjacent to the Alberta legislature in downtown Edmonton to Forever Canadian Avenue.. He described the east-to-west thoroughfare as “a high tourist destination. ” adding that school groups and other visitors come by to learn about the Forever Canadian petition and the number of patriotic Canadians and Albertans who supported it.
The “Forever Canadian” petition is a pro-federalist campaign name that was verified by election officials in December. with just over 400. 000 signatures.. In his phone interview following the Sunday announcement. Janz said many constituents signed the petition and volunteered to help collect signatures.. He said the separatist issue is tied to more than provincial politics, arguing it affects business confidence and jobs.
“The spectre of separatism is an enormous risk to investment in our province, jobs in our community,” Janz said. “It’s creating uncertainty. You can’t build a robust economy, a prosperous Edmonton, with this looming spectre of separation.”
The proposal lands amid renewed legal and political uncertainty over whether the province will hold a referendum on separation this fall.. The province’s lawmakers have yet to decide whether the Forever Canadian petition’s proposed question. “Do you agree that Alberta should remain within Canada?” will be put on a ballot in a fall referendum or to a vote in the legislature.
Janz’s Sunday announcement also came days after a judge’s decision to throw out a separatist group’s petition calling for a referendum.. The judge said the Stay Free Alberta group’s petition shouldn’t have been issued under a provincial law that Premier Danielle Smith’s government made changes to. which the court said aided the separatist effort.. The judge also said Smith’s government neglected its duty to consult First Nations.
Smith has said she supports a sovereign Alberta in a united Canada but also that Albertans are frustrated with Ottawa and deserve to be heard. Stay Free Alberta and Smith have said they will be appealing the judge’s decision.
The next steps for Janz’s street plan are now in motion: he said he will submit his application for the street renaming to Edmonton’s Naming Committee soon. He hopes to mark Canada Day in July on a street called Forever Canadian Avenue.
“It’s not about one government or one premier but it’s about a moment when Albertans came together and said over 400,000 of us are willing to sign that we want to remain in Canada,” Janz said. “That’s a beautiful thing.”— With files from Jack Farrell
Edmonton Alberta Michael Janz 99th Avenue Forever Canadian Avenue petition referendum Danielle Smith separatism Naming Committee Canada Day Stay Free Alberta