Albertans have voted against launching the legal process toward separation, according to a projection by CBC News, with early provincial referendum results showing roughly 76 per cent in favour of remaining in Canada and about 24 per cent backing a binding independence vote. The broadcaster reported that counting was still underway, with additional ballots expected to be tallied overnight. The result concerns Question 10 on the provincial ballot, which asked whether Alberta should begin the legal steps required to hold a binding referendum on leaving Canada.
Why it matters
The vote puts a provisional end to the most serious push for Alberta separation in recent memory, but the response from the movement's most visible figures suggests the issue is not settled. Two separatist leaders declined to accept the projection as final, and one framed the campaign as the opening of a longer argument rather than its conclusion. The referendum also carried nine other questions on immigration and constitutional change, several of which remained close as counting continued.
Separatist leaders question the early count
Mitch Sylvestre, who leads the Alberta Prosperity Project, told CBC News shortly after the projection that he had never expected to be satisfied with mail-in ballots and would hold off until every result was in. He had earlier said he expected support for a binding independence vote to land somewhere between 40 and 65 per cent, and he maintained that range could still be reached. He did not discuss what supporters might do next.
Jeffrey Rath, also with the Alberta Prosperity Project, told CBC he did not think the numbers reflected the province as a whole and said the share backing a binding referendum could still rise. Asked about his plans if support stayed near the roughly 24 per cent recorded at the time of the interview, he said supporters would get to work and look ahead, and compared the situation to a political party carrying on after an election loss. He also said the result raises difficult questions for the United Conservative Party, arguing it cannot be led by a federalist while a large share of its members favour independence. He named several provincial and federal political figures in making that point.
Keith Wilson, who led the Let Alberta Decide campaign, addressed supporters at a watch party at the Alt Hotel in Calgary after the projection. He said the referendum closes a campaign but not the discussion about the province's future, its place in Canada and its role in the country, and he said he expects further talks about how to unlock Alberta's economic strength.
A mixed picture across the ballot
CBC reported that as of about 2:30 a.m. local time, with 88.3 per cent of polls reporting, the separation option was ahead in just one riding: Central Peace-Notley, a largely rural area in northwestern Alberta that takes in Spirit River, Fairview and Falher. The option stood at 51.1 per cent there.
On the other nine questions, the "yes" side was leading in all but Question 8, which asks whether Alberta should work with other willing provinces to amend the Constitution so provinces can opt out of federal programs in areas such as health care, education and social services without losing the associated federal funding. The largest margin among the first nine questions appeared on Question 5, on requiring proof of citizenship to vote, at 62.3 per cent in favour. Results on Questions 6 through 9, which deal with constitutional changes including abolishing the Senate and letting the province appoint judges, were tighter, with some flipping back and forth.
Elections Alberta had earlier extended voting hours at multiple locations and delayed the release of results, according to the source reporting.
Both Premier Danielle Smith and the prime minister said they were pleased with the outcome, CBC reported.
What to watch: the final tallies, including mail-in ballots, and whether the separatist leaders' wait-and-see stance hardens into a challenge to the projected result.
