Against independence referendum: Alberta wants to remain Canadian

In the Canadian province of Alberta, there is no referendum on secession from the rest of the country. According to media reports, a majority voted for national unity. The separatist efforts had also aroused Trump’s interest. Voters in the West Canadian province of Alberta have reportedly voted by a majority against a referendum on independence from Canada. Voters should decide whether their province should remain part of Canada or whether to initiate a process leading to a legally binding further referendum on secession and the path to state independence. As reported by CBC and CTV News, after counting more than one million votes, about 76 percent voted to remain in Canada, while 23 percent favored starting a process that could lead to a secession. The final result is due to be published on 29 October, according to the Electoral Authority. In total, 3.1 million people were eligible to vote. “Canada is worth fighting for,” Prime Minister Mark Carney wrote on X. “Go to the election today, vote for Canada.” According to surveys, only a quarter of Alberta’s approximately five million inhabitants were for independence. Carney, who grew up in Alberta, had called on the supporters of the unity of Canada in advance to participate in the vote in order to prevent a victory of the separatists. It is about “the future of our country,” he said. Economic interests The non-binding referendum was convened by Alberta’s conservative head of government, Danielle Smith, after a judge had previously stopped a planned citizens’ referendum over constitutional concerns. Smith had declared that he wanted to vote against independence, but there are also strong forces in her party for secession. Many separatists believe that the liberal central government in Ottawa hinders the oil industry through its environmental policies. Alberta with the major cities of Edmonton and Calgary is considered relatively strong economically, in the province lies the majority of the proven Canadian oil reserves, which are considered the fourth largest in the world. Trump is also interested The independence movement in Alberta, which was still insignificant a few years ago, has now also aroused the interest of US President Donald Trump, who has repeatedly spoken about making Canada the 51st federal state in the USA. For example, the separatists were received at the State Department in Washington a few months ago, and US tech entrepreneur Elon Musk spoke out in early October in favor of the secession of the province of Canada.