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U.S. editionLe Devoir reported on Tuesday that, based on first results, about 76% of Albertans voted yes to remain in Canada. La Presse described the vote as a referendum with 10 questions, organized by Premier Danielle Smith. Le Devoir wrote that Smith called the vote to end a heated debate and now considers the separation question closed. La Presse reported that Thomas Lukaszuk, who leads Alberta's federalist movement, said Smith should resign. Global News reported that separatist leader Jeffrey Rath said his movement has thousands of committed volunteers and will turn its attention to Smith and the UCP. The National Post reported that Albertans appear to want a say in how many newcomers they accept and appear willing to crack open the Constitution. La Presse wrote that for Ottawa the message was weak and ambiguous, and that the ball is now in Mark Carney's court.
A lopsided result takes an independence vote off the near-term agenda, but the other ballot questions give Smith material to press Ottawa on immigration and constitutional powers. A premier who called a vote that separatists lost also faces pressure from two sides: federalists who want her out and separatists who want to keep organizing.
Readers outside Alberta may see the immigration findings show up in federal-provincial discussions, since the National Post points to where Albertans' priorities lie. Albertans can expect the UCP to be where the autonomy debate continues.
Federalists such as Thomas Lukaszuk argue that Smith should step down, saying in La Presse that the exercise was hers to answer for. In that view, the lopsided yes to Canada shows how little appetite there was for separation.
Separatists such as Jeffrey Rath say the defeat does not end their movement, citing thousands of committed volunteers. Global News reports they will try to influence Smith and the UCP instead of dropping the cause.
Confirmed: the roughly 76% yes figure comes from first results reported by Le Devoir, and Smith says the separation question is closed. Not confirmed: final tallies and any formal federal response. Watch whether Carney's government answers the autonomy and immigration questions and whether Rath's group organizes inside the UCP.
Le Devoir (first results, Smith says question closed, 10/20) · La Presse (Lukaszuk, Ottawa reaction, 10/20) · Global News (Rath and separatists, 10/20) · National Post (immigration views, 10/20)
Albertans vote about 76% to stay in Canada as Smith says the separation question is closedAlbertans vote about 76% to stay in Canada as Smith says the separation question is closed
First results from the 10-question referendum show a lopsided outcome, and separatists now turn their attention to Premier Danielle Smith and the UCP.
Albertans voted decisively to remain in Canada, according to first results from the province's referendum. Le Devoir reported on Tuesday that about 76% of voters said yes to staying in the country. La Presse described the exercise as a referendum with 10 questions, which Premier Danielle Smith had hoped would send a strong message to Ottawa. Le Devoir wrote that Smith organized the vote to end a heated debate and now considers the separation question closed. La Presse added that, although Albertans chose to remain a province within Canada, the ballot covered other subjects as well. The National Post reported that Albertans appear to want a say in how many newcomers the province accepts, want limits on newcomers' access to social services, and seem willing to crack open the Constitution.
The political fallout began the same day. La Presse reported that Thomas Lukaszuk, who leads Alberta's federalist movement, said Smith should resign. Global News reported that separatist leader Jeffrey Rath, after what the outlet called a decisive defeat, said his side had built a movement of thousands of committed volunteers and would now turn its attention to Smith and the UCP. La Presse also wrote that, for Ottawa, the message from the vote was weak and ambiguous, and that the ball was now in the court of Mark Carney's government. In a second report, La Presse said the signals the prime minister sends to provinces seeking more autonomy will be closely watched. The newspaper did not report any formal federal response to the Alberta results as of its Wednesday edition.