Only about 24 per cent of voters supported starting the referendum process
The majority of Albertans want their province to remain part of Canada.
During the Oct. 19 provincial referendum, when asked if Alberta should remain a Canadian province or if the provincial government should begin the legal process of holding a binding referendum on possible separation, 76 per cent of voters chose to stay in Canada.
About 1.4 million Albertans voted to remain in Canada with more than 450,000 people supporting starting the legal referendum process, Elections Alberta’s current numbers show.
While most areas of the province supported staying in Canada, two rural electoral districts showed higher levels of support for holding a binding referendum.
Central Peace-Notley, for example, with 53 out of 60 polls reporting, shows 5,272 votes to begin the referendum process compared to 5,041 people voting to remain in Canada – a margin of only 231 ballots.
And in Rimbey-Rocky Mountain House-Sundre, only 198 votes separated the two sides with 79 of 85 polls reporting. 12,203 voters in that area want a referendum process compared to 12,005 who want to stay in Canada.
The Oct. 19 referendum included nine other questions related to Alberta seeking additional control within its borders, and abolishing the unelected Senate.
Voters, for example, said yes to Alberta having more control over immigration. Albertans also support the idea of a law requiring individuals to provide proof of citizenship to vote in provincial elections, and to do away with the federal Senate.
Albertans, however, don’t support the notion of allowing provinces to opt out of federal programs.
The most recent example of a successful separation referendum occurred in 2011.
South Sudan voted to separate from Sudan that year after 99 per cent of people cast a ballot in favour of its independence after decades of civil conflict.