Alberta Voters Reject Separation Referendum in Victory for PM Mark Carney

Alberta Voters Reject Separation Referendum in Victory for PM Mark Carney

Alberta overwhelmingly chooses to stay in Canada

Albertans voted Monday in the province's first-ever referendum on separation. CBC projected the result late Monday after about a third of ballots had been counted: roughly 76% supported remaining in Canada versus 23% backing a process that could lead to separation. With more than one million votes counted early Tuesday, about 76% supported staying, compared with 23% who backed beginning a process toward separation, according to The Guardian and Al Jazeera. Wikipedia's tally lists Remain 1,086,733 (76.25%) and Referendum 338,459 (23.75%), for 1,425,192 total. The Boston Globe reported that with 86% of votes counted, 75.5% chose to remain and 24.5% sought another vote.

Carney hails unity after the vote

Prime Minister Mark Carney posted on X that the vote means "Albertans and all Canadians will move forward together with renewed purpose and high ambition." The Guardian called the result a victory for Carney and supporters of Canadian unity. CNN quoted Carney saying the vote to remain means unity. Chicago Tribune noted Trump's trade war and threats to make Canada the 51st state helped Carney rally support in Alberta, where Liberal prime ministers have historically been unpopular.

The vote was not direct independence

CBC and Al Jazeera reported the referendum was nonbinding and would not authorize independence; instead it asked whether Alberta should commence the legal process required under the Canadian Constitution to hold a binding provincial referendum on separation. Separatists were frustrated that the vote was not explicitly about independence. The Edmonton Journal printed question 10 verbatim: "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?" with Option 1 (Remain): 1,415,137 and Option 2 (Referendum): 459,940.

Separatists still won some ridings

Global News reported nearly half a million ballots were cast in favour of continuing down the road toward leaving Canada, and in ridings such as Central Peace-Notley and Rimbey-Rocky Mountain House-Sundre, leave votes narrowly outnumbered stay votes. NPR cited former premier Jason Kenney saying separatist parties traditionally attracted only 1% or 2% of the vote. Smith cited a poll showing just 22% support for separation, a figure she said was still too high.

Why the referendum happened

Premier Danielle Smith announced the referendum in May, saying it was "time to have a vote, understand the will of Albertans on this subject, and move on." NPR reported she called it amid pressure from separatists within her governing United Conservative Party, even though she opposes independence. Separatist groups included the Alberta Prosperity Project, Let Alberta Decide and the Pathway to Independence. Smith said she was "very pleased" early results showed widespread support for remaining in Canada and would address Albertans Tuesday.

What's next: nine questions pending, movement undeterred

BNN Bloomberg reported voters faced 10 questions, the key one on staying in Canada versus holding a second binding referendum, with about 1.3 million Albertans already casting ballots by mail and at advance stations. CBC and Al Jazeera said results of the other nine questions should be completed and announced by Wednesday, with ballots counted in order from question one to nine. Jeffrey Rath of the Alberta Prosperity Project said the push for independence will "absolutely" continue. Time argued the result may do little to quiet the separatist movement.

Carney and Smith cooperate on pipeline

RFI reported Carney has worked to improve relations between Alberta and Ottawa since taking office last year, partnering with Smith on advancing a new pipeline to export more Alberta bitumen overseas, a project considered a non-starter during Trudeau's tenure. Separatist leader Mitch Sylvestre told AFP that Carney "threatened" the province in the campaign's closing days, calling Carney's "voting against Canada is dangerous" message "very unreasonable."