Alberta residents voted overwhelmingly in a referendum to keep their province as part of Canada and rejected holding a referendum on independence.
Foreign news agencies reported that unofficial referendum results showed over two-thirds of Alberta residents voted decisively to maintain their province's status as part of Canada and rejected holding a future referendum on independence.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney praised the result as a “clear decision” by Albertans and emphasized the necessity for Canada to unite in facing external challenges such as trade wars with the United States.
Meanwhile, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith, who initiated the referendum after over 300,000 citizens signed a petition despite her personal opposition to separation, welcomed the results, stating that Albertans want a stronger Alberta within a united Canada.
At the same time, the atmosphere among separatist supporters was subdued and their gathering quickly dispersed. However, leaders like Jeffrey Rath and Mitch Sylvester insisted the movement is not over, calling this vote only a “first step” with plans to push for a change in the ruling party leadership in the future.
The separatist group views the federal government's environmental policies in Ottawa as hindering Alberta’s oil-driven economic growth. Their activism intensified following the COVID-19 crisis and the Freedom Convoy protests in 2022.
The separatist supporters collected around 300,000 signatures and submitted a petition in May requesting a referendum on independence.
However, Alberta’s courts declared the petition invalid, citing that the signature collection process lacked consultation with Indigenous peoples (First Nations), who would be legally and land rights affected by separation.
Meanwhile, an opposing public campaign called Forever Canadian gathered over 400,000 signatures opposing separation.
Although the court suspended the original petition and Premier Danielle Smith has expressed her support for Alberta remaining part of Canada, she acknowledges that the public’s strong desire to vote on this issue cannot be ignored.
This referendum was thus held as an official way to hear the people’s voice, with an agreement that if the choice was to stay, the question of separation would not be raised again during her tenure.
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Source:bbc