Alberta’s unofficial count favored staying in Canada, leaving Premier Danielle Smith to pursue provincial autonomy within the federation after voters rejected the legal route to a later separation referendum.
Smith said she would not call another referendum on separation while she remains premier. In an Oct. 20 address, she said Alberta would continue seeking greater autonomy and handle disputes with Ottawa through Canada’s political and legal institutions. She also called for residents to reunite after the result.
The Oct. 19 ballot asked whether Alberta should remain a Canadian province or begin a constitutional process for a separate, binding vote. It was nonbinding and did not ask voters to decide separation that day. The vote followed an earlier debate over whether Alberta should take legal steps toward a separation vote.
Elections Alberta’s unofficial results feed showed about 75% favoring remaining in Canada among roughly 1.9 million ballots counted by late Oct. 20. The tally was still changing, so the figure is not the final margin. The agency plans to announce official results at noon ET (16:00 UTC) on Oct. 29, equivalent to 10 a.m. MDT.
The separation question was one of 10 on the ballot. The nine others covered immigration, provincial services, voter identification and proposed constitutional changes. One proposal would charge residents with nonpermanent immigration status for their own and their families’ use of health care and education. Smith said her government would pursue reforms indicated by the other questions, though some counts were still pending. The ballot itself does not impose a fee.
Smith also pointed to Alberta’s energy industry when describing tensions with Ottawa. The federal government listed the proposed Pacific Link oil pipeline as a project of national interest on Oct. 1; Alberta says construction has not started.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney welcomed the separation result, saying, “Above all, Albertans chose Canada.” The official count due Oct. 29 will provide the next confirmed measure of the vote.
