A committee of Alberta MLAs has approved a referendum petition asking voters whether the province should remain part of Canada.

Members of the governing United Conservative Party outvoted Opposition members during Thursday’s meeting, allowing the petition to move forward.

The vote came after the UCP caucus prematurely released a statement on Wednesday recommending the referendum before the committee had completed discussions.

UCP MLA Jason Nixon later said the release had been sent in error.

Opposition members repeatedly questioned government representatives about the media breach during the meeting, but UCP members declined to discuss it further.

NDP MLA Court Ellingson proposed an amendment calling for consultation with First Nations before any referendum is held.

“The government can’t pass the duty to consult,” Ellingson said during the meeting. The amendment was ultimately defeated.

Last week, a court ruled a separatist petition led by Stay Free Alberta unconstitutional because First Nations had not been consulted. The group has since appealed the decision.

NDP MLA Rakhi Pancholi also raised concerns about a recent data breach involving the personal information of millions of Albertans.

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith and her cabinet will now review the petition.