Smith votes to stay in Canada as nearly 175,000 cast advance referendum ballots
Premier Danielle Smith marked her ballot in favour of remaining in Confederation as advance voting opened for Alberta's separation referendum, with turnout far outpacing the 2023 provincial election.
Why it matters
The referendum's outcome could determine whether Alberta pursues a second binding vote on leaving Canada and shapes the province's push for more control over immigration and constitutional powers.
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith announced in a social media video that she had voted to keep the province in Canada, saying recent progress on issues like a proposed new oil pipeline to the B.C. coast shows "Canada can still work" if changes are made. The referendum's main question asks Albertans whether to remain in Canada or hold a second, binding vote on leaving Confederation. Nine additional questions on the ballot, put forward by Smith's government, deal with proposals for greater provincial control over immigration and pursuing constitutional change to shift more power to the provinces. Smith urged Albertans to vote yes on those nine questions to send Ottawa a message about provincial autonomy.
NDP Leader Naheed Nenshi also voted Tuesday and urged Albertans to reject the UCP government's nine proposals while voting to stay in Canada.
Elections Alberta said nearly 175,000 people voted on the first day of advance polling Tuesday, higher than the roughly 152,000 daily average seen during advance voting in the 2023 provincial election. Some stations stayed open late to handle lineups and technology delays, and severe winds knocked out power at two rural polling stations north of Edmonton on Wednesday. Nearly two-thirds of the about 658,000 special mail-in ballots requested had been returned ahead of Friday's 5 p.m. deadline.
Advance voting runs through Saturday, with official polling day set for Monday. Polls suggest a strong majority of Albertans favour staying in Canada, though the debate has divided communities, including in the border village of Coutts, where competing pro-Canada and pro-separation signs and flags remain on display.
Compiled by the Alberta Daily Desk — an AI-written summary of reporting from the credited sources below, produced and reviewed under our editorial policy.