Alberta referendum: Stay in Canada leads, outlets project

Updated 12:20 a.m. MT Oct. 20: Elections Alberta had not posted 2026 results on its public results page at the time of writing, so the figures below are media projections and unofficial counts.

EDMONTON – Albertans voted to stay in Canada in Monday’s referendum, CBC News and CTV News projected, with about 76 per cent of ballots counted so far backing that option.

CTV News projected 76.4 per cent support for staying in Canada and 23.6 per cent for holding a second, binding referendum on leaving the country. The CTV News Decision Desk made the call on the key question, the 10th on the ballot.

Early counts put the number of votes tallied at just over one million, or about a third of eligible voters, CTV reported. Elections Alberta said earlier that 1,356,873 votes had been cast in advance polls or by mail, or 43.1 per cent of the 3,148,343 eligible voters. Final turnout has not been confirmed.

Elections Alberta said more than 1,400 polling locations were in use and that 106 opened late. As of 10:35 p.m. MT, one poll in Cardston-Siksika was still open. The agency said it would announce the final tally on the key question by 4 a.m. MT.

Voters were asked 10 questions. Nine cover immigration and constitutional matters, and results on those were described as split in early counts, with slightly higher support for the immigration questions than the constitutional ones. Official results on those questions are expected Wednesday, according to CTV.

Keith Wilson, co-chair of Let Alberta Decide, said he believed the separatist side had won the debate. “I’ve said that publicly, that I think we’ve won,” he said, adding that the discussion would continue. No formal concession had been reported.

Prime Minister Mark Carney told a Calgary crowd before the vote that “our country and your futures are too precious to play games with.” Premier Danielle Smith had not commented on the result in the reports reviewed.

First Nations leaders were among the vote’s most vocal critics. Mikisew Cree First Nation Chief Melody Lepine called the referendum a “distraction” before polls closed, and Sturgeon Lake Cree Nation Chief Sheldon Sunshine said holding one was “utter nonsense.”

Earlier coverage from Canada News Media looked at turnout as voting day unfolded, the Assembly of First Nations’ position and what Carney said before the vote.

This story is developing and will be updated as Elections Alberta releases official results.

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Via CTV News and CBC News. Photo: file photo of the Alberta Legislature Building in Edmonton.