In a historic vote that saw the oil-rich province put the question of separation to the public, roughly 75 per cent of voters thought Alberta should stay in Canada, while just under 25 per cent voted to pursue a binding referendum on leaving
While Albertans have voted decisively to remain in Canada, results from the northwest corner of the province show separatist sentiment remains strong across parts of the Peace Region.
Unofficial results released by Elections Alberta show voters in the region were far more supportive of beginning the separation referendum process than many other parts of the province.
In the Central Peace-Notley electoral division, voters narrowly backed the proposal, while support exceeded 40 per cent in several neighbouring ridings.
Political scientist Duane Bratt says while the referendum was an “overwhelming victory” for those who want Alberta to remain in Canada, the results have energized the separatist movement rather than ending it.
“I don’t think this is going away any time soon,” Bratt told CTV News Channel. “What we now see is that the separatists feel legitimized, they have mobilized, they have funding, they have a network and they’re going to try to push a future referendum despite being defeated handily.”
Bratt also suggested the issue could create challenges for Premier Danielle Smith, noting divisions within the governing United Conservative Party ahead of its November convention.
Meanwhile, supporters of Alberta independence are vowing to continue their campaign.
“We’re a grassroots movement and we were up against the entire globalist machine,” said Jeffrey Rath, co-founder of the Alberta Prosperity Project.
Rath said the movement’s leaders will continue making the case for independence and predicted separatist supporters will remain a significant force within conservative politics in Alberta.
Peace Region Referendum Results
| Electoral Division | Remain in Canada | Begin Separation Referendum Process |
|---|---|---|
| Grande Prairie | 11,512 (62.5%) | 6,893 (37.5%) |
| Grande Prairie-Wapiti | 5,112 (57.6%) | 3,766 (42.4%) |
| Central Peace-Notley | 5,068 (49.0%) | 5,275 (51.0%) |
| Peace River | 8,454 (57.5%) | 6,248 (42.5%) |
Source: Elections Alberta
The results highlight a significant divide between the Peace Region and much of the rest of Alberta, where voters ultimately rejected the proposal to begin the process toward provincial separation.
However, with support topping 40 per cent in three of the region’s four electoral divisions and winning outright in Central Peace-Notley, the vote demonstrated that independence remains a potent political issue across northern Alberta.
With files from CTV Edmonton and CTV News