Elections Alberta says separatist group’s app containing voter info may have been seen by thousands

Elections Alberta confirmed that an online database operated by the Centurion Project, a separatist group advocating for Alberta independence, contained voter information for nearly three million Albertans. The data, including names, addresses, and registration details, was legally provided to the Republican Party of Alberta but was accessed by the Centurion Project through an unspecified third party. A judge ordered the database shut down last month after Elections Alberta revealed its contents during a Court of King’s Bench hearing. Dallas Stoesz, deputy chief electoral officer, stated that investigators are unsure whether the voter list is still being shared or accessed, with thousands potentially having viewed it. Over 500 Albertans who accessed the database have received cease-and-desist letters, including CBC News. The Centurion Project, led by David Parker, claimed the tool was designed to identify and recruit voters sympathetic to Alberta’s independence. Parker compared the data to public phone books and has refused to cooperate with Elections Alberta’s investigation. His lawyer, Chad Williamson, argued that Parker’s refusal to sign a statutory declaration is a constitutional right, not defiance. Gordon McClure, Alberta’s chief electoral officer, stated Parker has not complied with directives to halt use of the voter list. Elections Alberta is pursuing legal action to ensure the data is no longer accessible, while also searching for traces of the list on the dark web. The RCMP and Alberta’s privacy commissioner are also involved in the investigation.