Alberta Counts 10 Non-Binding Referendum Questions as CBC Tracks Live Results

Q: Since the referendum is non-binding, could the provincial government ignore the results entirely if they contradict their political agenda?

Yes. Because the referendum is explicitly non-binding, the Alberta government is not legally required to implement any of the results, even if a majority vote goes against its preferences. That said, “ignore” does not mean “without consequence.” A clear result would still carry political weight. If voters strongly reject a proposal the government supports, or strongly back one it opposes, that outcome could shape public pressure, media scrutiny, opposition attacks and the government’s own calculations ahead of the next election. The practical effect also depends on the question. On Question 10, a vote to start the legal process toward a later binding separation referendum would not itself trigger separation, and even a future binding vote would not automatically take Alberta out of Canada. Constitutional negotiations, federal involvement, and issues including Indigenous rights would still have to be addressed. So even if the province wanted to act, there are major legal limits. For the other questions, many involve areas that would require legislation, intergovernmental talks, or constitutional change. The government could choose to treat supportive results as a mandate, selectively pursue some items, delay others, or decline to proceed at all. So legally, yes, the province could set the results aside. Politically, however, a strong vote would be hard to dismiss entirely, especially on a high-profile issue like Alberta’s future in Canada.

3 articles · Updated · CBC Sports · Oct 19

Ballots are being counted across Alberta in the 2026 referendum, with CBC providing live results as returns come in.
10 questions are on the ballot, and all are non-binding, meaning the provincial government is not required to act on the outcome.
Question 10 is the only one for which CBC plans to make a projection before all votes are counted, once voting trends become clear.
Poll-by-poll totals remain preliminary while many polls are still outstanding, and no minimum turnout is required for the results to be valid.