TOKYO – It was a decisive result in a referendum that could have strained the bonds of national unity.
But preliminary results show that more than two-thirds of Alberta voters sent a clear message that they want to remain in Canada. It’s possible that once the final tally is counted, the rejection by a comfortable majority of voters to pursue separation through a binding referendum could halt Alberta’s separatist sentiment in its tracks. This would push the idea that had been discussed quietly for decades back into the political fringes. For leaders of the Alberta separatist movement, while the result was expected given the polling, it was still disappointing after more than a year of campaigning and pushing for a vote on separation.
Asked by the BBC how he felt in one sentence after the results, separatist leader Mitch Sylvestre simply said: “Not happy”.
The outcome was celebrated almost immediately by Prime Minister Mark Carney, who said in a statement that “Albertans made a clear choice”.
But the movement’s leaders say their battle is long from over and that the issue could dominate Alberta politics for years to come.
Jeffrey Rath, a Calgary-lawyer and one of the main spokespeople for Alberta separation, said he and others “plan to roll up our sleeves and work harder”.
Keith Wilson, another separatist, told supporters in Calgary that while the vote is over, “the conversation about Alberta’s future in Canada and our place in Canada and our role in Canada will continue”.
Smith, who openly supported and campaigned for the unity vote, thanked voters for the result.
The Alberta premier has been criticised for taking a “dangerous” gamble that the independence push would likely face defeat while still giving her restive base what they wanted.
She lowered the petition threshold needed to get the citizen-led campaign the ballot in the first place.
