Alberta votes by large majority to remain part of Canada in boost for Carney

The referendum ​was nonbinding."Albertans made a clear choice," Carney said in a statement.

"They chose unity, to build together, and to take care of each other.""Canada ​is greater than the sum of its parts," he said.Pollsters and analysts had dismissed the possibility of a separatist ⁠victory in Monday's vote, citing data that showed only about one-third of residents in the western energy-producing province supported a future referendum on leaving.Alberta ​Premier Danielle Smith, who announced the referendum in May, issued a statement saying she….

US Treasury Secretary Scott ‌Bessent, ⁠discussing Alberta in January, said: "I think we should let them come down into the US."Monday's vote was the second time in two weeks that Carney has had to face a separatist challenge.

An independence-minded party won power in the predominantly French-speaking province of Quebec on October 5 but fell short of the majority needed to fulfil a vow to hold a vote on breaking with Canada.Quebec held independence referendums in 1980 and 1995, both of which failed.Carney, who ​grew up mostly in Alberta, acknowledges ​Albertans have often felt slighted by ⁠Ottawa.

He has noted his government fast-tracked a proposed new pipeline, with Alberta and the federal government as majority owners.

And he has pointed to Alberta's critical role in helping Canada reduce its dependence on the US.First Nations groups ​have also objected to the idea of an independent Alberta, as their land treaties with Ottawa predate the province's ​creation within Canada.The result is unlikely to end the independence movement.

Before the referendum, some separatist leaders said they would continue to pursue another vote even if most Albertans said they wanted to remain.According to data released on October 16 by the pollster Angus Reid, 62% of Albertans believe "there will never ⁠be an ​end to the separatist movement".The vote on Monday also included nine other nonbinding questions on proposed ​measures to strengthen the province's hand when dealing with Ottawa.

These covered immigration, access to provincial services — such as education, social care and healthcare — and voter identification requirements.Provisional results showed voters ​backed eight of the nine measures, but some with only small majorities.

Alberta votes by large majority to remain part of Canada in boost for Carney Updated 10 minutes ago 76% of Albertans back the 'remain' side versus 24% in favour of a binding vote on separation.