Alberta Holds Secession Vote as 66% Back Staying in Canada
Updated
Updated · Reuters · Oct 19
Alberta Holds Secession Vote as 66% Back Staying in Canada
3 articles · Updated · Reuters · Oct 19
Summary
Alberta voters cast ballots Monday in a nonbinding referendum on leaving Canada, with polls set to close at 8 p.m. MDT and early results due overnight.
A Friday Angus Reid poll showed 66% plan to vote to remain, but three in five Albertans also said the separatist issue will not disappear after this vote.
Economic anger drives the campaign: many separatists say Ottawa has hurt Alberta's oil industry through environmental policy, and 60% of pro-separation voters said they mainly want to send the federal government a message.
Premier Danielle Smith, the first Alberta leader to put separation to a vote, backs staying in Canada but has said a majority "yes" would trigger a push for a binding referendum.
The vote adds pressure on Prime Minister Mark Carney, who campaigned for the "stay" side while trying to ease Alberta grievances with policy reversals and support for a new oil export pipeline.