Alberta delivers decisive vote to stay in Canada
Por Mickey Djuric — POLITICO – TOP Stories
OTTAWA — Alberta voters have overwhelmingly rejected separation, though pro-independence leaders are vowing to keep up their fight.
Early results show 76% voted to stay in Canada, while 24% backed holding a binding referendum on separation, according to Elections Canada, with 70% of the vote counted.
Prime Minister Mark Carney said the results mean “Albertans and all Canadians will move forward together with renewed purpose and high ambition.”
“Now is our opportunity to take all that we have been given as Canadians — and we have been given the greatest country in the world — and make our country better for all of us,” he said in a statement.
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith has said she won’t call another separation vote. But a court appeal by separatists could force Alberta to hold one if it succeeds.
Smith said on X that she is “pleased” with the results and will address the province Tuesday evening.
Smith is eager for the province to move on after years of grievances over former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s energy policies, many of which have been repealed or reformed to boost oil and gas production.
Carney traveled to Alberta ahead of the vote to campaign for the “stay” side.
Carney warned that failing to defuse the “leave” vote could burden Alberta’s children “with years of deep division and great uncertainty” and cause lasting economic damage to the country. He has compared Alberta’s referendum campaign to the U.K.’s 2016 Brexit vote.
Prominent separatist leaders have vowed to keep their movement going, despite Monday’s outcome.
“The Alberta Independence movement has existed since we entered Confederation, but it has never been organized enough to have any major votes. Now it is, and this is only the beginning,” David Parker, a prominent independence leader who helped Smith rise to power in 2022, wrote on X ahead of the vote.
Voters also weighed nine other questions, including on immigration and Canada’s Constitution. Those results are still being counted and are expected by Wednesday, Elections Alberta said.
Fonte: POLITICO – TOP Stories
