Alberta voters reject half of Premier Smith's referendum proposals, including separation

All polling stations have reported, and Elections Alberta’s unofficial results reveal that Albertans rejected four of the nine referendum items put forward by Premier Danielle Smith. The separation question, which would have triggered a second vote on leaving Canada, was decisively rejected early on. The defeated measures also included four constitutional amendment proposals concerning judicial elections, Senate abolition, opting out of federal programs, and overriding conflicting federal laws, each losing by over 100,000 votes.

Voters approved initiatives to give the province greater control over immigration, to charge newcomers for certain provincial services, and to tighten voting eligibility. In a Wednesday news conference, Smith framed the outcomes as a clear mandate and said she has already spoken with Prime Minister Mark Carney about pursuing a joint immigration approach.