Voters in Canada's oil-rich province of Alberta have overwhelmingly rejected a proposal to begin the process toward independence from Canada, delivering a major victory for Prime Minister Mark Carney and supporters of national unity.
Unofficial results from Elections Alberta showed about 76% of voters chose for Alberta to remain a province of Canada, while nearly 24% backed starting the constitutional process for a future binding referendum on separation. More than 1.8 million votes were counted with results from 84% of voting areas reporting. Official results are due on October 29.
The vote on Monday, October 19 was not itself a referendum on independence. The question asked: "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?"
The ballot was part of a broader provincial referendum covering 10 questions, including immigration, access to public services and voter ID, each with its own colour-coded ballot. Question 10 was the one on separation.
Premier Danielle Smith, who opposes Alberta independence but faced pressure from separatists within her United Conservative Party, had called the vote to establish public opinion. She welcomed the result.
"Albertans made a clear choice. They chose unity, to build together, and to take care of each other. Above all, Albertans chose Canada," Canadian PM Carney said in a statement. Speaking to reporters Tuesday, Carney called it a "great day" and said, "I'm thrilled that Albertans have chosen unity."
"I think when we've been under pressure and we had to go and leave everything, I think we've answered well," he said. "The result is absolutely clear. It's a vast majority in favour of staying in Canada."
The result comes amid a rising tide of patriotism in Canada as the country has rallied against U.S. President Donald Trump's tariffs and annexation threats. The Alberta independence campaign, led by groups like the Alberta Prosperity Project and amplified online, had sought support from the U.S., with some leaders meeting members of Trump's administration. The vote had faced concerns about possible foreign interference after reports that Republican operatives assisted separatist leaders.
Separatist leaders struck a defiant tone despite the loss. Calgary lawyer Jeffrey Rath, a leading activist, told media the movement started from nothing a year and a half ago.
"We started basically from nothing, a year and a half ago, and we've dominated the conversation," Rath said. "For a fledgling political movement, it was a major victory and a hell of an accomplishment."
"Our movement isn't stopping and we're continuing to move forward," he said. Asked whether they would keep pushing until they got the result they wanted, he replied: "Why not?"
Thomas Lukaszuk, former Alberta politician and founder of the pro-unity Forever Canadian movement, said the result would send a strong message to Trump: "Canada is not up for grabs."
"We are a solid country that's united from coast to coast to coast and we stick up for each other," Lukaszuk told a cheering crowd in Edmonton.
Analysts said while the vote represents a decisive rejection of separation, it may not end a movement that has spent decades pushing for greater autonomy over energy wealth, taxation and federal policy.
