Albertans vote on 10-question referendum, including Confederation question
More than 1.3 million ballots had already been cast by mail or advance polls before voting day in the referendum called by Premier Danielle Smith.
Why it matters
The referendum's outcome will determine whether Alberta pursues a binding separation vote and shapes Smith's bargaining position with the federal government.
Albertans went to the polls today in a referendum asking whether the province should stay in Canada or hold a second, binding vote on leaving Confederation. More than 1.3 million people had already cast ballots by mail or in advance polls ahead of the vote called by Premier Danielle Smith.
The separation question is one of 10 on the ballot. The other nine cover immigration and constitutional issues, asking whether Alberta should have more say over who can work in the province, whether to limit or charge fees to some newcomers seeking health care and education, and whether the province should pursue talks with other provinces on taking power from the federal government and abolishing the Senate.
Smith's United Conservative Party did not campaign on a separation vote in the 2023 election, but she says anger over the federal government under former prime minister Justin Trudeau led hundreds of thousands of Albertans to sign petitions on both sides of the issue, prompting her to call the referendum. Smith says she personally voted to stay in Canada but wants a yes vote on the other nine questions to give her a mandate to negotiate with Prime Minister Mark Carney.
Carney visited Alberta last week to encourage a vote to stay in Canada, telling a Calgary crowd to reject the remaining nine questions.
Compiled by the Alberta Daily Desk — an AI-written summary of reporting from the credited sources below, produced and reviewed under our editorial policy.