Alberta votes overwhelmingly to stay in Canada

Voters in the Canadian province of Alberta have overwhelmingly rejected a proposal to begin the process of leaving Canada, handing a decisive victory to supporters of national unity.

With nearly 1.9 million votes counted in Monday's referendum, about 76 per cent backed remaining in Canada and 24 per cent supported starting a process towards separation, according to unofficial results from Elections Alberta.

"Albertans chose Canada"

The Canadian prime minister, Mark Carney, who grew up in the provincial capital, Edmonton, welcomed the result. "Albertans made a clear choice," he said. "They chose unity, to build together, and to take care of each other. Above all, Albertans chose Canada."

He said the result would let Canadians move forward together, diversify trade, build major infrastructure and make the country a global energy powerhouse, with Alberta at its centre.

The province's premier, Danielle Smith, also welcomed the early results. "Albertans have voted for a stronger Alberta in a united Canada," she wrote on social media.

A quarter still unhappy

Separatists tried to find a silver lining. Keith Wilson, one of the movement's leaders, said that "at least a quarter of Albertans feel that Alberta needs to be treated better". Others were blunter. "The result is bleak. Independence feels far away and we should not pretend this was not a defeat," wrote David Parker, a long-time far-right organiser.

The pollster David Coletto said many residents had seen the referendum as a distraction. "Most Albertans feel deep grievances with the federal government while also being proudly Canadian," he said. "The marriage may be rocky at times, and most Albertans want to see some things changed, but very few are willing to see the marriage end."

One radio host complained that "someone owes Albertans $130m for this theatrical waste of taxpayers' money".

Ten questions on the ballot

The separation question, which asked whether to stay in Canada or begin a legal process that could lead to a second vote, was one of ten put to voters, on subjects including immigration, healthcare, education and the province's constitutional powers. Delays at about 100 of the 1,400 polling stations pushed results back by more than two hours, and Elections Alberta said the remaining results could take days to count.

About 43 per cent of eligible voters, some 1.3 million people, voted early or by post.

The vote has caused difficulties for Ms Smith, whose United Conservative party has seen its support fall and lost a former stronghold in a by-election. She owes her leadership in large part to separatists in the party who ousted her predecessor, Jason Kenney. One prominent separatist, Jeffrey Rath, said he would push for a special party meeting to remove her, calling her an "avowed federalist".

Calgary's mayor, Jeromy Farkas, a strong opponent of independence, said the city's "best future is here, as a Canadian city", but warned that "no result will permanently put this to bed".