Albertans reject separatism in provincial referendum
More than two-thirds of voters in Alberta have rejected pursuing an independence referendum, choosing instead to remain part of Canada, according to preliminary results from Elections Alberta. Prime Minister Mark Carney hailed the outcome as a victory for national unity, while provincial premier Danielle Smith said the result demonstrated Albertans' commitment to a stronger Alberta within Canada. The referendum concluded months of campaigning by separatists who contended that federal environmental policy had hindered economic growth in the oil-producing province.
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Preliminary results from a referendum held in Alberta show that more than two-thirds of voters rejected pursuing a future independence vote, opting instead for the province to remain part of Canada, according to Elections Alberta figures reported by the BBC. The vote followed months of campaigning by separatists who argued that federal environmental policy had stifled economic growth in the oil-rich province.
Prime Minister Mark Carney called the result a great result for the country, saying Albertans had chosen unity over a push for separation. He framed the vote as important for presenting a united Canadian front amid an ongoing trade dispute with the United States. Alberta's premier, Danielle Smith, who personally opposed the separatist campaign despite support for it within her own United Conservative Party, said the result showed Albertans had voted for a stronger Alberta in a united Canada and promised to address the province later on the path forward.
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