Alberta to hold referendum on whether to remain in Canada
Key takeaways
- Nadine Yousif Senior Canada reporter Reuters Alberta separatists have publicly pressured Premier Danielle Smith to include a question on independence in an October referendum.
- A restive independence movement has been growing in the oil-rich province, built on a long-held sense that Alberta is overlooked by decision-makers in Ottawa.
- Still, opinion polls suggest that the majority of Albertans would vote against separating.
Why this matters: a developing story that could shape the day's news cycle.
Nadine Yousif Senior Canada reporter Reuters Alberta separatists have publicly pressured Premier Danielle Smith to include a question on independence in an October referendum. Alberta will hold a referendum on whether the province should remain in Canada or move ahead with a second binding vote on separation, marking the first significant test of the country's unity in decades.
Thursday's announcement by Premier Danielle Smith comes after a citizen-led petition calling for separation gathered more than 300,000 signatures early this year and a separate petition advocating for Alberta to stay gathered more than 400,000.
A restive independence movement has been growing in the oil-rich province, built on a long-held sense that Alberta is overlooked by decision-makers in Ottawa.