What Will Happen to My Canadian Citizenship?

Understandably, Albertans are worried about their Canadian citizenship post–independence, but they need not be. Here’s why:

1. GEOGRAPHY: Your Canadian citizenship exists because of Parliamentary statute, which means it can’t be denied when you change provincial or international boundaries.¹ After independence, if the Federal Government were to try and revoke your Canadian citizenship, they would have to pass new federal legislation to do so – a practice increasingly condemned by both the legal and international community.
2. DUAL CITIZENSHIP: Dual citizenship is already precedent in Canada, with many Canadians holding both American and Canadian passports. There is no reason to assume this would be any different in an independent Alberta.
3. CHOICE: In the unlikely event that dual citizenship is denied, the UN/ILC “Draft Articles on Nationality in relation to State Succession” says that citizens of an independent Alberta must have the option to choose what citizenship they want.²

The Most Likely Scenario: Post–independence, Alberta will automatically grant you Alberta citizenship while Canada continues to recognize your Canadian citizenship. Exact rules will be determined in a new Alberta Citizenship Act and a Canada–Alberta treaty.

¹ https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/c-29/
² https://legal.un.org/ilc/texts/instruments/english/draft_articles/3_4_1999.pdf?