Alberta vote tests Canada’s unity as separatist ...

Summary

• Alberta, Canada’s oil-rich western province, is voting on whether to pursue a binding referendum on independence, putting national unity under fresh scrutiny as Prime Minister Mark Carney warns of economic uncertainty amid an escalating trade dispute with the United States.
• The vote on Monday will determine whether the province should take the legal steps required to hold a definitive referendum on leaving Canada.
• The referendum contains 10 questions, including several concerning immigration, but the central issue asks whether Alberta should remain a Canadian province or pursue the legal process for a definitive independence vote.

AI Generated Summary

Alberta, Canada’s oil-rich western province, is voting on whether to pursue a binding referendum on independence, putting national unity under fresh scrutiny as Prime Minister Mark Carney warns of economic uncertainty amid an escalating trade dispute with the United States.

The vote on Monday will determine whether the province should take the legal steps required to hold a definitive referendum on leaving Canada. Although polls suggest fewer than one-quarter of Albertans support independence, the turnout and mobilisation of separatist voters could prove decisive.

“Don’t let anyone tell you this is already decided,” Carney told a rally on Thursday, urging residents to vote. He described the separatist push as a dangerous gamble at a time when US President Donald Trump is imposing tariffs and threatening Canadian sovereignty.