Alberta’s first public vote on separation from Canada is nonbinding, but a ‘yes’ could begin the process for a binding referendum

Alberta will hold a nonbinding referendum on Monday asking residents whether they want to remain part of Canada, the first time the oil-rich province has put separation to a public vote. Polls consistently show about 70% want to stay in Canada, while roughly a quarter support an independent Alberta.

The ballot has 10 questions. Its final question asks whether Alberta should remain a province or begin the legal process required for a binding separation referendum; a simple majority in favor of separation could trigger that process. The other nonbinding questions concern immigration, provincial services and voter identification.

Premier Danielle Smith announced the separation question after months of campaigning by separatists, who argue that Alberta’s energy wealth subsidizes poorer regions and that Ottawa’s bureaucracy stifles the economy. Smith said in May it was time to understand the will of Albertans. In a social media video posted later, she showed that she had voted to keep Alberta in Canada during advance polling.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has campaigned to keep Alberta in the federation, saying national unity is critical as the country faces external threats, including a trade war with the United States.

Polls are scheduled to close at 8 p.m. on Monday. Elections Alberta will hand-count the separation question first, with unofficial results expected within 48 hours. Smith has said she would respect a vote to leave and begin the legal process, though separation would not happen imminently.

Under Canada’s 2000 Clarity Act, secession talks require a clear majority and a constitutional amendment negotiated by provincial, territorial and federal governments. First Nations groups have also objected to independence, saying their land treaties predate Alberta’s entry into Confederation. An Alberta court previously ruled that the referendum process should have included Indigenous consultations; the province has appealed that decision.