Alberta votes to stay in Canada as historic referendum revives century-long Ottawa grievances

On Monday Alberta conducted a province-wide referendum that included ten government-proposed questions, the last of which asked voters if they wished to stay in Canada or move toward a binding secession referendum. Preliminary results released Tuesday indicated about 76% voted to remain, ending a campaign that brought to the surface grievances stretching back to the 1930s Canadian Wheat Board monopoly, the 1980s National Energy Program under Pierre Trudeau, and the emergence of the Reform Party as a voice for western alienation.

More recent sources of anger included Liberal energy policies, the federal carbon tax, Bill C-69 and Bill C-48, as well as pandemic-related restrictions championed by former premier Jason Kenney. Danielle Smith, who succeeded Kenney as premier, framed the vote as a way to finally resolve the separatist debate and promised to speak to Albertans about the province’s next steps. The result underscores the enduring tension between Alberta and the federal government despite recent improvements in relations.