Politics · Canada · 1 hr ago
Alberta holds nonbinding vote on whether to leave Canada
Alberta is holding a nonbinding vote on leaving Canada on Monday.
The oil-rich western province has about five million people, and polls show most voters want to remain in Canada.
Economic disputes over federal policies and Alberta’s oil industry have fueled calls for independence, with some residents saying the province gives more to the country than it receives.
This is the first separation vote in a Canadian province outside Quebec, where separatism has been tied to language and cultural differences.
Prime Minister Mark Carney has urged Albertans to stay, while also changing some environmental policies and backing a proposed oil pipeline.
If a majority votes for separation, Premier Danielle Smith says she will seek a binding referendum; the current vote does not itself make Alberta independent.
The separatist movement is expected to continue, while questions about defence, currency and border controls remain unresolved.
Alberta is holding a nonbinding referendum on whether the province should leave Canada or begin the process toward a binding vote on separation.
The vote is scheduled for Monday, and polls cited by both articles show most Albertans want to remain in Canada.
Prime Minister Mark Carney and federal Liberal and Conservative politicians have urged voters to support remaining in Canada.
Support for separation is linked to complaints that federal policies constrain Alberta’s oil industry and that the province contributes more to Canada’s economy than it receives.
The articles say many Albertans expect the separatist movement to continue even if the referendum fails.
- Who
- Alberta voters are deciding the question. Premier Danielle Smith called the referendum.
- What
- A nonbinding vote on whether Alberta should remain in Canada or start the legal process toward a binding referendum on leaving.
- When
- Monday, Oct. 19, 2026.
- Where
- Alberta, Canada.
- Why
- The vote follows pressure from separatists, who cite economic grievances and federal policies affecting the oil industry.
Alberta separatists
Federal Liberals and Conservatives urging Alberta to remain in Canada
Economic grievances
Alberta separatists
Separatists say federal environmental policies constrain Alberta’s oil industry and the province contributes more to Canada’s economy than it receives.
Federal Liberals and Conservatives urging Alberta to remain in Canada
Federal leaders argue Alberta should remain part of Canada; Carney said the country is not a transaction between provinces.
Alberta’s future
Alberta separatists
Some separatists support independence and have published transition plans, though questions about defence, currency and border controls remain unresolved.
Federal Liberals and Conservatives urging Alberta to remain in Canada
Liberals and Conservatives have urged a decisive vote to remain in a united Canada.
Abacus Data conducted a survey of 1,021 Alberta voters.
Carney headlined a Calgary rally and called for a decisive result in the referendum.
Carney campaigned for Alberta to remain in Canada, and Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre spoke about national unity in Calgary.
Alberta is scheduled to hold its nonbinding referendum on separation.
- Population
- Alberta is home to 5 million people.
- Angus Reid poll
- 66% of Albertans surveyed said they planned to vote to remain in Canada.
- Abacus Data poll
- 68% said they would keep Alberta a province of Canada; 24% would start the legal process for a binding separation referendum.
- Abacus survey
- Conducted Oct. 7–13 among 1,021 Alberta voters; margin of error for a comparable probability-based sample was about 3.1 percentage points.
- Poll closing time
- 8 p.m. MDT on Monday, with results to be published as they arrive.
3 sources
What people are saying
Canada is not a transaction between provinces. It's not about gross and net, gives and gets.
Canada has an imbalanced system which feeds the central population and government at the expense of the outlying producing provinces such as Alberta.
We need to ensure that every patriotic Canadian, Albertan gets out to vote so that we can have an overwhelmingly decisive vote for a stronger Alberta within a united Canada.
This issue is not going away now. Because the separatists are mobilized. They've networked. They're connected.