Voters in Canada’s Alberta have overwhelmingly rejected a proposal to begin the process of independence, delivering a decisive victory for supporters of Canadian unity and deepening divisions within the separatist movement. With nearly 1.9m votes counted, roughly 76% people supported remaining in Canada, while 24% backed beginning a process toward separation, according to unofficial results from Elections Alberta. Prime minister Mark Carney, who grew up in Edmonton, Alberta’s capital, celebrated the result.
They chose unity, to build together, and to take care of each other. Above all, Albertans chose Canada.” He said the result would allow Canadians to move forward together and accelerate efforts to diversify trade, develop major infrastructure projects and make Canada a global energy powerhouse, with Alberta at its centre. The results showed an overwhelming majority of Albertans had voted to remain and one radio show host posted: “Someone owes Albertans $130m for this theatrical waste of taxpayers’ money.” Pollster David Coletto told the Guardian that residents felt the whole referendum was “a distraction away” from what they wanted their government to focus on.
The marriage may be rocky at times, and most Albertans want to see some thing changed, but very few are willing to see the marriage end.” The province’s separatists, however, saw a silver lining. I think the numbers are going to fluctuate, but it is fair to say that at least a quarter of Albertans feel that Alberta needs to be treated better,” said Keith Wilson, a leader of the separatist movement. Others took a different view of the results.
Independence feels far away and we should not pretend this was not a defeat, however, it changes nothing about the reality of the circumstances Albertans find themselves in,” David Parker, a longtime far-right organiser linked to a massive breach of voter information, wrote on social media. The Alberta premier, Danielle Smith, welcomed the early results, saying they showed widespread support for remaining in Canada. Even though the vote was not explicitly about independence – a point that frustrated separatists – the ballot question nonetheless exposed divisions in Alberta’s politics and raised questions about the durability of national unity.
Delays at roughly 100 of the 1,400 at polling stations across the province pushed results back by more than two hours, but shortly after polls closed on Monday evening the results suggested a decisive win for those looking to remain in Canada. The separation question – whether to remain in Canada or begin a legal process that could lead to a second vote – was one of 10 put to Albertans on Monday. The others covered issues including immigration, healthcare, education and the province’s constitutional powers.
Elections Alberta said the remaining results could take days to count. In the days leading up to the vote, provincial leaders and federal politicians crisscrossed the province to make the case for a unified country. Carney warned against a vote from residents of the oil-rich province simply looking to “send a message” to the federal government.
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