Alberta has spoken — and decisively. In the first independence referendum ever held in Canada outside Quebec, voters rejected separation by a wide margin, with about 76% choosing “Alberta should remain a province in Canada” and roughly 23% backing a move toward a future binding separation vote.
Voting took place on Monday, October 19, with CBC News and CTV projecting the result late Monday night and further results confirming the outcome on Tuesday. Early unofficial counts showed 941,204 votes for remaining versus 288,259 for separation out of roughly 1.23 million ballots counted on the question.
The secession question was No. 10 on a 10-question provincial referendum; the other nine covered immigration rules and constitutional changes. The vote was nonbinding — even a separatist win would only have begun legal steps toward a second, binding vote, not independence itself. Official results are scheduled for release October 29, with more than a million ballots cast before election day.
Prime Minister Mark Carney called it a win for unity: “Albertans made a clear choice. They chose unity, to build together, and to take care of each other.” Premier Danielle Smith — who herself voted to remain — hailed the outcome as a “reset” in Alberta’s relationship with Ottawa and said she will not hold a second vote while she is premier if the remain side wins.
The vote unfolded against the extraordinary backdrop of the U.S.–Canada trade war and annexation rhetoric from President Trump. For now, though, the message from Alberta is unambiguous: nearly eight in ten voters want their future inside Canada. Read our weekend box office story and Kaley Cuoco’s new baby news.
Bhudev Bhagaliya is an experienced and senior journalist who has carved a distinct niche for himself in the world of Hindi journalism through his profound understanding and precise writing style. With over two decades of experience in the field of journalism, he has held key responsibilities at Dainik Hindustan for 12 years and at Amar Ujala for one year. Currently, he serves as the Content Editor for the Jagrook Youth News newspaper and portal, where he plays a crucial role in ensuring the quality and credibility of the news content. Bhudev Bhagaliya consistently writes about issues that help raise awareness within society and among the younger generation.