Alberta’s debate over possible separation from Canada coinciding with a separate Khalistan referendum campaign is creating an unusual overlap in separatist politics in the province. Alberta is set to hold a referendum on October 19, including a question on whether the provincial government should begin the constitutional process for a future binding vote on separation from Canada.

The question is non-binding. A vote in favour would not make Alberta independent. It would only start the legal process required for a later binding referendum.

A day earlier, on October 18, Sikhs for Justice (SFJ), the US-based organisation linked by Indian authorities to designated terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, is holding a Khalistan referendum-related event in Edmonton, according to information available to News18.

The two campaigns are separate and have no demonstrated organisational link. SFJ is campaigning for an independent Khalistan and says it holds non-binding referendums among Sikh communities in several countries. The Edmonton event has no legal connection to Alberta’s referendum. However, the timing and similar use of the term “referendum” place the two separatist campaigns in the same political spotlight.

Alberta’s official ballot has 10 questions. Its separation question asks: “Should Alberta remain a province of Canada, or should the Government of Alberta commence the legal process required under the Canadian Constitution to hold a binding provincial referendum on whether or not Alberta should separate from Canada?"

Security concerns around the Khalistan campaign have also grown in Alberta. In August, the RCMP issued a “duty to warn" notice to Manjinder Singh, an Abbotsford-based Sikh activist involved in the Khalistan campaign. Police said his life faced a credible, serious and imminent threat but did not reveal details about the threat or those suspected of being behind it.

Ontario-based activist Inderjeet Singh Gosal also received an RCMP warning. Gosal has served as a Canadian coordinator of the Khalistan referendum campaign.

The warnings highlight the difficult security situation for Canadian authorities. They must protect activists involved in separatist campaigns while investigating threats and addressing criminal and extremist networks linked to the wider issue.

The Khalistan issue has long strained Canada-India relations. Canada has said activists supporting Khalistan are protected by freedom of expression and political rights. India has designated SFJ and Pannun as terrorist-linked entities and considers the campaign a national-security threat.

Tensions rose sharply after the June 2023 killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Surrey, British Columbia. Canada has accused Indian government-linked actors of involvement in criminal activity on Canadian soil. The RCMP has said its investigations uncovered evidence involving homicides, extortion, organised crime and interference in democratic processes. India has repeatedly rejected allegations of government involvement in such attacks.

Canadian authorities are also dealing with extortion and violence affecting South Asian communities. In 2024, the RCMP said it had investigated homicides, extortion and other violent crimes. It identified more than a dozen credible and imminent threats that led to “duty to warn" notifications for members of the South Asian community, particularly those associated with the pro-Khalistan movement.

The overlapping concerns now include separatist activism, violent extremism, foreign interference and organised crime. Alberta’s parallel debates add another layer for Ottawa as authorities navigate two distinct separatist campaigns unfolding in the same province within a day of each other.