Alberta votes to stay in Canada as CBC projects 76% remain win

Albertans have voted to stay in Canada by a convincing margin in Monday’s historic referendum, according to projections from the Canadian Broadcasting Corp.

The CBC put preliminary results at above 76% backing remaining in Canada, with just under a quarter supporting starting the legal process toward a second, binding referendum on separation, the Wall Street Journal reports. The broadcaster’s projections showed remain leading in all regions — more than 80% in Edmonton and Calgary, and over 60% in some more rural central areas. Elections Alberta’s own preliminary tally also showed the remain vote at around three-quarters as counting continued.

Prime Minister Mark Carney, who had called the referendum a “dangerous bluff”, invoked his experience leading the Bank of England during Brexit to argue that separation would bring crippling economic consequences — as Canada faces a trade war with the United States and threats to its sovereignty from President Donald Trump, the Journal reports.

Premier Danielle Smith, who called the vote but opposes independence and voted remain in advance polls, now faces a still-divided United Conservative Party; separatists say “this is only the beginning”.

Question 10 was the separation question on a 10-question ballot — the others covered immigration, public services and voter ID. The vote is non-binding, with the official result due on 29 October.