Voters in Alberta, Canada’s oil-rich western province, delivered a lopsided verdict on independence Monday, with roughly three in four choosing to remain in Canada rather than start down the road to a binding separation vote.
With more than 1.8 million votes counted as of 7:10 a.m. local time Tuesday, the “remain” option led with 75.7% to 24.3% for beginning the legal process toward a binding referendum on leaving Canada, CBC News reported. CBC and the private network CTV both projected a clear win for the federalist side. Elections Alberta has said unofficial results are expected within 48 hours of polls closing, with official results to follow.
Nine Other Questions
The separation question was one of 10 on the ballot. Premier Danielle Smith also asked voters about immigration, election security and the province’s relationship with Ottawa. Early returns showed “yes” ahead on eight of those nine questions, according to CBC. Four immigration-related questions, including one on limiting provincially funded programs to citizens, permanent residents and those with approved immigration status, were drawing between 56% and 59% support. A question on requiring proof of citizenship to vote in provincial elections stood at about 63% in favor.
Four constitutional questions, such as abolishing the unelected federal Senate and letting provinces select certain judges, were much closer. The lone question trailing was a proposal to let provinces opt out of federal programs without losing federal funding, where “no” led with 51.3%, CBC reported. Results of the non-constitutional questions are not binding on the provincial government.
Reaction
Prime Minister Mark Carney, who grew up in Alberta, welcomed the outcome. “They chose unity, to build together, and to take care of each other,” he said in a statement on X, according to AFP.
Smith, a conservative who opposed independence but agreed to put the question on the ballot after a citizen-led petition, thanked voters and praised what she called widespread support for remaining in Canada. The BBC reported that she had said she would not hold an independence referendum while she is premier if Albertans voted it down. CBC reported she is scheduled to address the province Tuesday evening.
Separatist leaders conceded defeat but vowed to press on. Asked by the BBC to sum up his feelings in one sentence, Alberta Prosperity Project leader Mitch Sylvestre said: “Not happy.” Fellow organizer Jeffrey Rath told reporters the push would “absolutely” continue. “As far as I’m concerned we’ve already won. We’ve created a massive movement in this province,” he said, according to AFP.
The U.S. Angle
The vote unfolded against strained U.S.-Canada relations amid President Donald Trump’s trade war and his past talk of annexing Canada. AFP noted that Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has called Alberta a “natural partner” for the United States, that Elon Musk posted this month that Alberta “should separate,” and that Rath held meetings at the State Department. Many voters on the unity side told the BBC that tariff threats from Washington had reinforced their desire to keep Canada together.
Separatist frustration in Alberta has long centered on federal energy and environmental policy. Carney has sought to ease those tensions by partnering with Smith on a proposed oil pipeline to Canada’s Pacific coast.
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