---
title: "Alberta Voters Reject Independence Referendum"
url: https://newscentral.site/alberta-voters-reject-independence-referendum/
language: en
publisher: "News Central Site"
section: "World"
published: 2026-10-20T05:27:33.000Z
updated: 2026-10-20T08:57:17.026Z
id: 7beccf14-3bba-4860-9ebe-2f60b93221f1
source: "ABC News International https://abcnews.com/International/wireStory/canadian-broadcasting-corp-projects-alberta-voters-rejected-move-137402888"
attribution: "Link to https://newscentral.site/alberta-voters-reject-independence-referendum/ and name News Central Site when you quote or summarize this story."
---

# Alberta Voters Reject Independence Referendum

Albertans have chosen to remain part of Canada according to preliminary projections by the Canadian Broadcasting Corp.

A crucial vote in Alberta, Canada's oil-rich province, has seen voters reject a move towards independence from the rest of the country. According to preliminary projections by the Canadian Broadcasting Corp., Albertans have chosen to remain part of Canada.

The referendum was not a direct question on separation, but rather asked whether Albertans wanted to begin a process that could ultimately lead to a second vote on independence. This process would involve the Alberta government drafting a constitution and holding another election on the issue. The outcome of this first vote sets the stage for further debate on the province's future within Canada.

The decision was made by over 1.35 million Albertans, representing about 43% of eligible voters who cast advance or special ballots in the referendum. Voting hours were extended at more than 100 polling stations due to late openings, resulting in a delay in the announcement of results.

As voting came to a close in Alberta, voters expressed mixed opinions about the province's potential separation from Canada. Some saw the move as a way to break free from what they perceived as Ottawa's control over their resources and decisions.

For Taylor MacIsaac, a Wainwright resident who backed separation, the idea of independence is appealing on personal and ideological grounds. As a conservative individual raised in rural Alberta, she believes that separation would be beneficial for her community.

Others, however, were critical of the referendum process itself, viewing it as a waste of resources when more pressing issues like healthcare needed attention. Dave Malka, 59, from Edmonton, was one such critic who felt that the focus on separatism came at an inopportune time, given global tensions and threats to Canadian unity.

The debate has been intense, with some voters expressing frustration with what they see as a lack of autonomy for Alberta within Canada. Carney, in particular, had urged Albertans to deliver a decisive vote for unity, emphasizing the importance of putting aside differences for the sake of national cohesion.

As the voting results began to trickle in, it remained to be seen whether the separatist movement would gain momentum or lose steam.

The Alberta referendum on independence has come to an end, with the Canadian Broadcasting Corp. projecting that voters have rejected a move toward separation. This outcome was anticipated by Premier Danielle Smith, who had expressed opposition to independence despite pressure from separatists within her party.

A key factor in the separatist movement's growth was the anger over COVID-19 restrictions, which mobilized activists who later turned their attention to calls for Alberta's independence. Former Premier Jason Kenney noted that separatist parties typically garnered only 1% or 2% of the vote before this shift.

The outcome is a significant setback for separatist advocate Jeff Rath, who had hoped for at least 30% of Albertans to vote in favor of separation. This would have been a crucial step toward beginning the process of separating from Canada, and it now appears that momentum has stalled.

---
Source: [ABC News International](https://abcnews.com/International/wireStory/canadian-broadcasting-corp-projects-alberta-voters-rejected-move-137402888)  
Published by News Central Site: https://newscentral.site/alberta-voters-reject-independence-referendum/