Alberta is holding a non-binding referendum on Monday to ask residents if they want to remain part of Canada, marking the first time the oil-rich province has ever put the question of separation to the public.
asserted
province → hold → public
Polls have consistently shown that most Albertans — around 70 per cent — want to stay in Canada, with roughly a quarter of residents supporting an independent Alberta.
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quarter → show → Alberta
What will residents be asked?
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residents → ask → What
The last ballot voters see is question 10, on whether Alberta should remain a Canadian province or start the legal process required to hold a binding referendum on separation.
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Alberta → see → separation
A simple majority in favour of separation could trigger that process.
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majority → trigger → process
Why is Alberta having this referendum?
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Alberta → have → referendum
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith said in May it was time to have a vote, understand the will of Albertans on this subject, and move on, when she announced the government would add a question on separation.
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government → say → separation
Smith’s decision followed months of campaigning by a small but vocal group of separatists, who argue Alberta’s energy wealth is subsidising poorer parts of the country and that bureaucracy in Ottawa has stifled the province’s economy.
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bureaucracy → follow → economy
Some members of the group had backed Smith’s candidacy for premier.
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members → back → premier
Smith says she voted for Alberta to remain in Canada during advance polling, according to a video she posted on social media on Wednesday.
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she → say → Wednesday
The majority French-speaking province of Quebec has had two referendums, in 1980 and 1995.
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province → speak → 1980
Quebecers voted to remain in Canada both times, but by the slimmest of margins in 1995.
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Quebecers → vote → 1995
The separatist Parti Quebecois (PQ) won a provincial election earlier this month and has pledged to hold a third referendum, but only after US President Donald Trump has left office and if the party holds a majority.
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party → win → majority
The PQ was elected with a minority government on October 5, meaning it will rely on smaller parties to pass legislation.
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it → elect → legislation
While Ottawa is responsible for matters of national interest, such as defence, trade and foreign policy, the provinces and territories hold significant power over medical care, education and land rights.
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provinces → hold → care
When will the results be known?
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results → know → ?
Polls are scheduled to close at 8pm on Monday (0200 GMT on Tuesday).
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Polls → schedule → Tuesday
Elections Alberta says it will count ballots by hand and that the question on separation will be counted first.
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question → say → separation
It will publish results on the Elections Alberta website as they are received, and unofficial results are expected within 48 hours after voting ends.
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voting → publish → website
What happens if most Albertans vote to start the process of leaving Canada?
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Albertans → happen → Canada
Smith has said she will respect the result and quickly begin the process to hold a legally binding referendum.
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she → say → referendum
But separation would not happen imminently.
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separation → happen → ?
After the 1995 Quebec referendum, Canada’s Parliament passed the Clarity Act in 2000, which says talks about secession can only be triggered if there is a clear majority from the public, without specifying the necessary threshold.
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talks → pass → threshold
The act also states provinces and territories have no unilateral right to leave Canada and that a constitutional amendment negotiated by provincial, territorial and federal governments is required.
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amendment → state → governments
First Nations groups have objected to the idea of an independent Alberta, as their land treaties with Canada predate Alberta’s entry into Confederation.
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treaties → object → Confederation
In May, an Alberta court judge ruled the province’s chief electoral officer was wrong to allow separatists to collect signatures requesting a referendum, because the process should have prompted a consultation with Indigenous peoples whose rights might be violated by separation.
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rights → rule → separation
Alberta has appealed the decision.
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Alberta → appeal → decision
What has PM Carney said about the referendum?
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Carney → say → referendum
Carney, who was largely raised in Alberta, has previously said the best place for Alberta is in Canada and that the country cannot succeed if it’s divided.
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it → raise → Canada
He released a video on Canadian Thanksgiving, October 12, saying national unity is critical as Canada fights threats from abroad, including a trade war with the US.
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Canada → release → US
Carney has campaigned for Alberta to remain in Canada.
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Alberta → campaign → Canada
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