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Alberta Voters Reject Independence Referendum
· Confirmed
In Short: Voters in Canada's oil-rich province of Alberta have overwhelmingly rejected a proposal to begin a process toward independence, delivering a victory for Prime Minister Mark Carney and supporters of Canadian unity.
Voters in Canada's oil-rich province of Alberta have overwhelmingly rejected a proposal to begin a process toward independence, according to early results released Tuesday. With more than 1 million votes counted, about 76% supported remaining in Canada, while 23% backed beginning a process toward separation, according to unofficial results from Elections Alberta.
Prime Minister Mark Carney welcomed the results, stating, “On October 19, Albertans made a clear choice. They chose unity, to build together, and to take care of each other. Above all, Albertans chose Canada.” Carney had argued the vote was held “at the worst possible time,” citing the need for national stability while U.S. President Donald Trump wages a trade war and makes annexation threats.
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith also praised the results, saying, “Albertans have voted for a stronger Alberta in a united Canada.” Smith had called the referendum under pressure from separatists within her United Conservative Party.
The separation question was one of 10 put to Albertans on Monday. Data from Elections Alberta indicated roughly 43% of eligible voters – or 1.3 million Albertans – had already cast ballots before Monday’s vote through advance voting and mail-in ballots.
According to polls, less than a quarter of Alberta’s population support breaking away from Canada. The latest Ipsos polling suggests Alberta is unlikely to leave Canada, with only 18 percent of Albertans currently saying they would vote to separate if a referendum were held today.
Carney’s message was clear: “Voting against Canada is dangerous.” He warned that a vote against Canada is a “dangerous bluff that will lead to years of deep uncertainty and lost opportunities.” Carney pointed to the Pacific Link pipeline as evidence of a changed relationship, saying it would create more than 140,000 jobs and generate revenue for social programs.
Separatist supporters, however, were disappointed. Jour Dain, a 40-year-old separatist supporter, expressed his disappointment, saying, “Honestly, if this continues down this path of remaining in Canada, I'm just going to move.” He expressed a desire to live in the United States.
Jeffrey Rath, a top leader of the separatist Alberta Prosperity Project, told reporters his push for an independent Alberta will “absolutely” continue, despite the result from Monday’s vote. He said, “We’ve been educating Albertans on the benefits of independence and we’re continuing to move forward.”
The vote comes at a time when the province is mourning the deaths of four soldiers, while dozens of others were injured from a fast-moving fire that burned through a military base in Alberta.
As of June 25, 2025, CPP Investments reported that Canada's national pension fund totalled over $731 billion. This fund plays a significant role in the economic stability of the country.
With more than 1.9 million votes counted and results reported from 90% of voting areas and locations, 75% of voters supported remaining in Canada, while 25% backed beginning a process toward separation, according to unofficial results from Elections Alberta.
About three quarters of voters chose to stay in Canada, while one quarter opted to hold a second vote on separation later as of early Tuesday local time, with around 86% of polling locations reporting, according to unofficial results posted by the province.
What this adds
The vote adds to the ongoing debate over Alberta's relationship with the federal government and its economic future. Despite the setback, separatist groups have vowed to continue their push for independence.
What's confirmed
- October 20, 2026 / 2:11 AM EDT / AP Voters in Canada's oil-rich province of Alberta have rejected a proposal to begin a process toward independence, results showed early Tuesday, delivering a victory for Prime Minister Mark Carney and supporters of Canadian unity amid President Trump's trade war and annexation threats.
- Haley Erdegard, 44, who voted in Edmonton, was uncomfortable with separatist claims that Alberta shares too much of its oil revenue with the rest of Canada.
- With more than 1 million votes counted, 77% supported remaining in Canada, while 23% backed beginning a process toward separation, according to unofficial results from Elections Alberta.
- "I think it'll be good for Alberta to separate personally, as a very conservative individual that grew up in rural Alberta," she said.
- "On October 19, Albertans made a clear choice. They chose unity, to build together, and to take care of each other. Above all, Albertans chose Canada," Carney said in a statement on Tuesday.
- Smith opposes independence but called the referendum under pressure from separatists within her United Conservative Party.
- Albertans will decide whether to remain in Canada or instruct the government to begin the legal process toward a future separation referendum.
- CALGARY, Alberta — Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney warned Thursday that the United States is trying to break Canada so it can “own us” as he urged oil-rich Alberta not to begin a process toward separation in Monday’s referendum.
- “A vote against Canada is a dangerous bluff that will lead to years of deep uncertainty and lost opportunities,” he said.
- Alberta Premier Danielle Smith welcomed the early results, saying they showed widespread support for remaining in Canada.
- With U.S. President Donald Trump waging a trade war and threatening to make Canada the 51st state, Carney warned that the referendum comes at the “worst possible time” and urged Albertans not to take the outcome for granted.
- Canada's province of Alberta rejected a plan to hold a binding independence referendum, results showed Tuesday, a setback for separatists backed by allies of US President Donald Trump.
What's still developing
- A win for the stay-in-Canada side was expected after several polls showed it had a healthy lead.
- "I think the numbers are all silly," he said.
- Mitch Sylvestre, who heads the Alberta Prosperity Project, a prominent separatist organization, told AFP that US interests "don't play a role" in Alberta "until we win and become a government."
- A little touchy," Carney joked, drawing laughter. He was referring to U.S. Ambassador Pete Hoekstra's warning to Canadian politicians not to interfere in the U.S. midterm elections. Tanya Clemens, co-chair of the pro-independence group Let Alberta Decide, acknowledged Carney presents a challenge. "He's formidable for sure," Clemens told The Associated Press. Clemens argued, however, that Carney's agreements with Alberta Premier Danielle Smith amount to "pinky promises" that do not resolve long-standing grievances with Ottawa. Keith Wilson, another leader of Let Alberta Decide, rejected Carney's argument that global instability made this the wrong time for the vote. "The worst timing for this, why?
- “I think what we can agree on is that we have had some real change in the last 18 months,” Smith said alongside Carney in Red Deer, Alberta.
- A minority have long argued that separation is the only way to address their belief that Alberta is short-changed by its financial relationship with Ottawa, and prevented from fully exploiting the province’s vast fossil fuel reserves.
- 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.