Alberta voters have chosen to remain in Canada with an overwhelming majority, rejecting a proposal to begin the legal process for a binding referendum on separation in Question 10 of Monday’s historic provincial referendum.
CBC was one of the first major broadcasters to project the remain side’s victory while the other nine referendum questions will be counted throughout the night.
Turnout for advance voting and special ballot voting was 43.1 per cent. 837,791 votes were cast during the advance voting period and 519,082 votes were cast by special ballot.
Question 10 posed the following question to 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?”
Albertans could vote to remain in Canada (Option 1) or vote for the provincial government to commence the legal process required under the Canadian Constitution to hold a binding referendum on whether Alberta should separate from Canada (Option 2).
Prime Minister Mark Carney in a statement said:
"On October 19, Albertans made a clear choice. They chose unity, to build together, and to take care of each other. Above all, Albertans chose Canada.
While votes on all questions continue to be tallied, tonight’s results on the defining question of separation mean that Albertans and all Canadians will move forward together with renewed purpose and high ambition."
In a statement posted on X (formerly known as Twitter) from Premier Danielle Smith, she stated “Albertans have voted for a stronger Alberta in a united Canada.”
Thank you, Alberta!
— Danielle Smith (@ABDanielleSmith) October 20, 2026
I’m very pleased to see the initial results from Elections Alberta show widespread support for remaining in Canada. Albertans have voted for a stronger Alberta in a united Canada.
Thank you to all Albertans who took time to vote on these critically important… pic.twitter.com/a3Tk7T7k8H
This referendum follows months of debate over Alberta’s future. In a May 21 address, Premier Danielle Smith said her government would support a united Canada while recognizing that many Albertans felt “frustrated and angry with Ottawa.”
In the days leading up to the vote, demonstrations were held across the province by groups supporting Alberta’s separation from Canada and by those supporting Alberta remaining in Canada.
“Danielle Smith has said she wants to send a message to Ottawa. Instead, Albertans have sent a message to Danielle Smith,” said Alberta New Democratic Party (NDP) leader Naheed Nenshi to attendees at a watch party hosted at the Palomino Smokehouse in Calgary.
This is not the first time Canada has seen a province pose a referendum question to its people on separation. Québec’s 1995 referendum was the second of two referendums that asked voters if Québec should become sovereign. The referendum saw a 93.52 per cent voter turnout, with a narrow majority vote of 50.58 per cent for the “No” side.
Concern for what the results of Question 10 in Alberta’s referendum could mean for Québec and Canada have also been expressed.
“If Alberta separates, it might encourage Québec to do so as well,” reads a Sept. 8 letter from the independent advisory panel that reviewed the School of Public Policy’s report on the economic and fiscal impacts of separation to the President of Treasury Board and Minister of Finance.
“Albertan’s have woken up to what this government is, and to the possibility of a much better government," said Nenshi.
Official results are expected to be released by Elections Alberta on Thursday, Oct. 29.
Follow this story for more updates on referendum results.
With files from Alex Howey.
