Alberta voters reject independence referendum

newsOct 20, 2026422,546

CBC projected that Alberta voters overwhelmingly rejected a proposal to begin a legal process toward independence, with unofficial results showing about 76 percent supporting remaining in Canada and about 24 percent backing the separation question after more than 1.5 million votes were counted. Prime Minister Mark Carney, who grew up in Edmonton, called the outcome a clear choice for unity and said it would allow Canada to accelerate trade diversification, major infrastructure projects and energy development with Alberta at its centre. Alberta premier Danielle Smith welcomed the early results as evidence of widespread support for staying in Canada. Separatist leader Keith Wilson said the numbers left a silver lining, arguing roughly a quarter of Albertans feel the province is not being treated fairly. Elections Alberta reported that approximately 43 percent of eligible voters, or 1.3 million people, cast ballots before Monday via advance and mail voting and that about 100 of 1,400 polling stations experienced delays pushing results back more than two hours. The separation question was one of 10 ballot items covering immigration, healthcare, education and constitutional powers, and Elections Alberta warned remaining results could take days to count. The vote was not an immediate secession decision but would have started a process that could lead to a later, binding referendum on independence.

John Scalzi

@scalzi.com

Not my country nor my fight, but as a relieved outside observer allow me to extend a hearty "go fuck yourselves" to the Albertan separatists nonetheless www.theguardian.com/world/2026/o...

15256h ago

Stpd_Mnky 🦍🐵27

It is my country and ny foght, so I assure you we true Albertans accept your offering. Fuck the Seppies

Geordie Kakamora23

Separatists, nationalists and faux patriots are all cut from the same cloth. Much of the world's problems can be put squarely on the shoulders of people whinging about sovereignty.

cassie_mmk22

Yes and no, unfortunately theres nine other questions on the ballot, with most currently winning, all of them are designed to cause further strife between the provincial and federal governments in order to keep the separatist movement alive.

Felix O'Kelly13

That's a relief! My country voted for something like this, and Brexit has fucked us up, and left us far more at the mercy of figures like Trump. Alberta separating from Canada would have done the same to them.

Michael Fuss9

Recent years have also not worked in favor when the implied question to Albertans was: "Do you want to become part of the United States of America?"

SpringMall X5

Alberta just voted NO to a referendum to leave Canada. CBC projects reject. Big win for Mark Carney and Canadian unity. From Quebec in 1995 to Alberta in 2026 Canada keeps choosing to stay together.

Quoting this

clyde bruckman's skeleton's final repost5

so much for greater greater idaho

Mark Chadbourn

@chadbourn.bsky.social

The proto-Americans in Canada’s Alberta look like they’ve been crushed in their independence campaign, according to very early results. Counting is ongoing but Prime Minister Mark Carney is confident enough to issue a victory statement.

4435h ago

The Wagging Tail16

76% backed remaining in Canada. Waste of time and money.

Jus 🇮🇪 🇪🇺 🚜 🌲12

There is weeping and gnashing of teeth from the Far Right whack jobs in Canada. They wanted to be part of Trump's circus and destabilise Canada. But the voters saw through that BS. 🤞

Nathalie Plum10

The result is so bad for the 51st state people that the CBC stopped airing live results on their tv news channel with a little bit more than half results in. The website is still going on though. www.cbc.ca/news/politic...

Gregolec9

As I often wonder here in Poland, why they want to take thier province to Hell wholesale? Why not just movie to Mosc... Washington controlled territories if they are so fond of that way of life?

🇨🇦LisaFellarinaAntifa📎8

But they voted yes on the 9 anti-immigrant questions The most racist part of Canada.

bid47.bsky.social8

The benefits of holding a non-binding referendum first, eh, Mr Cameron...

Quoting this

Alex Sowden3

Albertans - and Canadians - aren’t stupid. Unlike 77.3M of their neighbours to the south #Alberta #Canada #ElbowsUp bsky.app/profile/chad...

Steve Peers

@stevepeers.bsky.social

Over 3/4 of the vote in Alberta to Remain in Canada 🇨🇦 www.cbc.ca/news/politic...

1245h ago

“Rebellious Scots” 😎🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🇪🇺3

🇨🇦 The state of Canada recognising the democratic right of the people of Alberta to choose their constitutional future 🇬🇧 The british state on the other hand refuse to recognise the democratic right of the people of Cymru & Scotland to determine their constitutional future 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 ⬇️ This is how we win💪

Shanchat 🏴‍☠️🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿3

Thank fuck for Canadian common sense. Canada isn't perfect, bo country is but it's pretty good.

Anti-Fascist forever2

A big Fuck You to the penises Trump, Musk and Putin!

prunesqualler.bsky.social1

But the Nazi questions won.

Stephen Knowles1

A referendum for a referendum. Looks like the Right have learned the lesson of brexit. What your parliament will reject, can be achieved with a referendum and a corrupt media.

Quoting this

“Rebellious Scots” 😎🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🇪🇺54

Dave Keating

@davekeating.substack.com

Despite an influence campaign from the United States trying to convince Alberta to secede from Canada and join the US as a 51st state, Albertans have rejected the idea in the #Albertexit referendum.

655h ago

Norma Rae 641

A colossal waste of money. Danielle Smith and her band of traitorous separatists can go fuck off now. Be useful. Build a hospital or something.

Quoting this

Christine Cooper 🇨🇦🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿10

And let’s not forget to thank Zelenskyy and the Ukrainians for knocking out the bad actor bot factories. #WeAreCanadian #NoToTheNine #TimeForDaniToLeave

Peter Morley ♿️

@petermorley.bsky.social

77% voted against Alberta independence? NOW that is a landslide! Unlike the skin of his teeth win for Donald Trump in 2024. Just WAIT until November 3 and see! 💙🗳️

673h ago

God-Emperor Tsunami 💙 #FBPE #BLM #GTTO3

I'm certain that those who want to break up Canada will be along soon to tell us how the massive dubbing they just too somehow gives them the mandate they need.

Social Media Lab

@socialmedialab.ca

👏🎉🥳The majority of Albertans support staying in Canada! 76.4% of voters think Alberta should stay in Canada, while 23.6% voted for a binding referendum on whether the province should separate. 🇨🇦 #cdnpoli #abpoli

294h ago

David Henig

@davidheniguk.bsky.social

Maybe taking a lesson from the Alberta referendum about the importance of leadership?

285h ago

Dr Argue FT1

Yes and with it the democratic end of Trumpian politics in Canada.

Anna Busy Bee

@annabusybee.bsky.social

The answers to the follow-up questions in the referendum were interesting. Of the 23% of the people who voted for starting the proces, only 32% really wanted indepence. The rest only wanted more influence for Alberta of as a protest vote. So only 8% of all voters prefer indepence. Good work Russia😂

204h ago

Butterflyhihi

@butterflyhihi.bsky.social

Imagine how many nurses and teachers could have been hired with the money wasted holding this ridiculous Alberta referendum!!! All to appease a bunch of ignorant Trump loving Canadians.

194h ago

Michael Röllinghoff

@roellinghoff.bsky.social

The defeat of the separatist movement aside, the Alberta referendum is fucking bleak. For example, a clear majority support stripping everyone but "Canadian citizens, permanent residents and individuals with an Alberta-approved immigration status" of health care, public schooling, and welfare.

145h ago

Heather e^-1/x^2

@heathermoandco.bsky.social

That is an overwhelming vote and #DanielleSmith should resign in disgrace.

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127h ago

Don[ny]ovan

@dgschell.bsky.social

"With more than 1 million votes counted, 77% supported remaining in Canada, while 23% backed beginning a process toward separation... The vote was not a direct referendum on independence but would have set oil-rich Alberta on a path toward a future vote on separation from Canada."

196h ago

Don[ny]ovan3

Important note: "there is no right under the Constitution of Canada to effect the secession of a province from Canada unilaterally and that, therefore, an amendment to the Constitution of Canada would be required for any province to secede from Canada..."