Voters in Canada’s oil-rich province of Alberta have rejected a proposal to begin a process toward independence, results showed early Tuesday (October 20, 2026), delivering a victory for Prime Minister Mark Carney and supporters of Canadian unity amid U.S. President Donald Trump’s trade war and annexation threats.
Results were delayed after late openings forced more than 100 polling stations to extend voting hours on Monday (October 19, 2026). More than 1.35 million Albertans, or 43% of eligible voters, cast advance or special ballots. She cited a poll showing just 22% support for separation, a figure she said was still too high. Separatist advocate Jeff Rath said he would be thrilled if 30% of Albertans voted to begin the separation process.
Albertans were deciding whether to remain in Canada or begin a legal process that could have lead to a second vote on separation. Alberta Premier Danielle Smith called the referendum amid pressure from separatists within her governing United Conservative Party, even though she opposes independence.
“We are a solid country that’s united from coast to coast to coast,” Thomas Lukaszuk, a former Alberta deputy premier who led the Forever Canadian campaign against separation, told supporters. He wants Smith ousted as leader of her governing United Conservative Party and said the party could splinter, potentially creating a new pro-independence party.
