BURSTA large majority of Albertans rejected a push to explore the potential of separating from Canada on Oct. 19.
The unofficial results, which trickled in from Elections Alberta in the early hours of Oct. 20, indicated that a majority of Albertans wished to remain in Canada.
Referendum question 10 on Oct. 19 asked Albertans:
Should Alberta remain a province of Canada, or should the Government of Alberta commence the legal process required under the Canadian Constitution to hold a binding provincial referendum on whether or not Alberta should separate from Canada?
Option 1: Alberta should remain a province in Canada.
Option 2: The Government of Alberta should commence the legal process required under the Canadian Constitution to hold a binding provincial referendum on whether or not Alberta should separate from Canada
According to Elections Alberta, 76 per cent (1,346,259) of Albertans voted for Option 1 on the ballot, with 24 per cent choosing Option 2 (426,648).
Premier Danielle Smith said she was pleased to see support to remain part of Canada.
“Albertans have voted for a stronger Alberta in a united Canada,” she said.
“Thank you to all Albertans who took time to vote on these critically important referendum questions.”
Monte Solberg, Founder of Vote to Stay, an organization that mobilized Albertans to get out and vote to remain a part of Canada, said this should be a unifying moment for the province.
“Albertans have spoken loud and clear, voting overwhelmingly to stay in Canada and reject separation,” he said.
“Alberta’s future is about building a stronger province alongside our fellow Canadians, not breaking our country apart.”
Results in Central Alberta for Question 10 were as follows:
Red Deer-North (64/64 polls reporting, 21,360 votes)
Option 1: 70% (14,908)
Option 2: 30% (6,452)
Red Deer-South (57/73 polls reporting, 25,868 votes)
Option 1: 70% (18,224)
Option 2: 30% (7,644)
Lacombe- Ponoka (71/72 polls reporting, 24,573 votes)
Option 1: 58% (14,148)
Option 2: 42% (10,425)
Maskwacis-Wetaskiwin (33/57 polls reporting, 18,553 votes)
Option 1: 68% (12,613)
Option 2: 32% (5,920)
Innisfail- Sylvan Lake (44/73 polls reporting, 10,439 votes)
Option 1: 64% (6,696)
Option 2: 36% (3,743)
Drumheller-Stettler (42/71 polls reporting, 15,457 votes)
Option 1: 52% (8,107)
Option 2: 48% (7,350)
Rimbey-Rocky Mountain House-Sundre (34/85 polls reporting, 6,053 votes)
Option 1: 63% (3,793)
Option 2: 37% (2,270)
Olds-Didsbury-Three Hills (71/71 polls reporting, 27,511 votes)
Option 1: 55% (15,212)
Option 2: 45% (12,299)