Alberta voters reject proposal to pursue independence from Canada

Voters in Alberta, Canada, have rejected a plan to start the legal process toward an independence vote. About 76% chose to stay in Canada, while 24% supported moving toward separation. More than 1.8 million votes were counted.

The ballot did not ask Albertans to leave Canada directly. It asked whether the government should begin legal steps toward a future referendum on independence. Premier Danielle Smith had said before the vote that she would not hold a separation referendum if voters chose to stay.

The vote happened during a difficult period for Canada. The United States has threatened trade tariffs and made territorial claims against Canada. The result showed strong public support for keeping the country together during that pressure.