Alberta votes to stay in Canada: about 76% reject separation in referendum
Early results from Monday's first-ever separation vote show roughly three in four Albertans want to remain in Canada. Prime Minister Mark Carney hailed a 'clear choice' for unity, but separatists vow to fight on.
At a glance
- With more than one million votes counted, about 76–77% of Albertans voted to remain in Canada in the province's first-ever referendum on separation, held on Monday, October 19.
- A 'yes' to leaving would only have started a process towards a second, binding vote on independence.
- Prime Minister Mark Carney welcomed a 'clear choice' for unity; Premier Danielle Smith, who voted to stay, says the result settles the question.
- Separatist leader Jeffrey Rath says the movement will continue; nine other referendum questions on immigration and provincial powers are still being counted.
Alberta has voted decisively to stay in Canada. In the province's first-ever referendum on separation, held on Monday, October 19, 2026, about three in four voters chose to remain part of the country, according to early results with more than one million ballots counted.
The result
| Share of votes (early count) | |
|---|---|
| Remain in Canada | About 76–77% |
| Start a process towards separation | About 23–24% |
| Votes counted | More than 1 million (about a third of eligible voters) |
| Early and mail-in ballots cast | More than 1.3 million |
The vote was not a direct independence ballot. A "yes" would have started a process leading to a second, binding referendum on leaving Canada. Final certified results are still to come.
Reactions
- Prime Minister Mark Carney, who grew up in Alberta, said Albertans had made a "clear choice" for unity, choosing "to build together and care for each other".
- Premier Danielle Smith said she voted to remain. She called the referendum to settle a divisive issue, promised that a simple majority would decide, and said there would be no follow-up referendum during her government's mandate.
- Jeffrey Rath of the separatist Alberta Prosperity Project said the push for an independent Alberta will go on and the movement has learned lessons from the campaign.
- Former premier Jason Kenney said separatists have no place in the governing United Conservative Party (UCP) and predicted a "reckoning" after the vote.
Outside Canada, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent had called Alberta Washington's "natural partner", and Elon Musk posted that Alberta "should separate".
Ten questions on one ballot
The separation question was one of 10 colour-coded ballots. The other nine asked whether Alberta should:
- have more control over who comes to the province to work;
- limit, and possibly charge fees for, health care and education for some newcomers;
- open talks with other provinces on taking powers back from Ottawa;
- support abolishing the Senate.
Smith said she needs a "yes" on all nine to bargain with Ottawa, and her government spent about $4 million urging a yes vote. Critics called some of the questions anti-immigrant, and the opposition NDP described the whole exercise as a "referendum on a referendum". Those nine questions were still being counted.
Background
Separatist anger in Alberta has grown for years over:
- oil and gas policy — the province has the world's fourth-largest proven oil reserves, and many residents blamed Justin Trudeau's government for curbing the industry;
- equalization payments — the federal system that moves money from richer to poorer provinces;
- federal "intrusion" into provincial powers.
Smith called the referendum in May after a citizen-led petition for a separation vote stalled in court. Since taking office, Carney has worked to repair relations, including backing a new pipeline to export more Alberta oil overseas.
Why it matters
A strong "remain" vote is a boost for national unity as Canada faces a trade war with the United States, and for Carney's efforts to hold the country together. For Alberta's economy — and for international investors in its oil sector — it reduces uncertainty.
Politically, Smith now faces pressure inside her own party: some local UCP associations want an early leadership review, the party recently lost a by-election in Calgary, and the next provincial election is due in October 2027.
What happens next
Officials will finish counting all 10 questions and certify the results. Separatist groups say they will regroup, while Smith and Carney both hope the result closes the debate for years.
Questions people are asking
Did Alberta vote to leave Canada?
No. Early results from the October 19, 2026, referendum show about 76–77% of voters chose to remain in Canada, with more than one million votes counted.
Was the Alberta referendum binding?
No. The question asked whether to start a process towards a separate, binding independence vote. Premier Danielle Smith said a simple majority would decide and that there would be no follow-up referendum during her government's term.
Why do some Albertans want to separate from Canada?
Supporters are angry about federal policies on oil and gas, equalization payments and what they see as Ottawa's interference in provincial affairs. Alberta holds the world's fourth-largest proven oil reserves.
