From Nationalpost · · 1m 20s
Alberta's Unsuccessful Secession Vote
Alberta's secession referendum fails by 50 points, joining Quebec's past unsuccessful independence votes.
In brief
Alberta's secession referendum fails by 50 points, joining Quebec's past unsuccessful independence votes. Alberta's independence referendum lost overwhelmingly, becoming the third Canadian subnational jurisdiction to fail at secession after Quebec's 1980 and 1995 votes. Originally reported by Nationalpost.
Alberta's Unsuccessful Secession Vote
Alberta participated in a political exercise that has become quintessentially Canadian: an unsuccessful secession vote.
Referendum Results
Approximately three-quarters of voters rejected the referendum in favour of remaining a province of Canada.
Historical Context
Of the handful of historical instances where a subnational jurisdiction voted on independence only to come up short, almost all have happened in Canada.
Quebec's Past Votes
Quebec's unsuccessful independence referenda in 1980 and 1: 1995 are the other two examples.
Newfoundland Example
In 1948, Newfoundland voters chose Confederation over independence by a margin of 52.3 per cent.
Scotland's Vote
Scotland's 2014 independence referendum saw independence lose by nine points (55.7 per cent 'no' vs 44.7 per cent 'yes').
Alberta's Margin
Alberta's independence option lost by about 50 points (75 per cent 'no' to 25 per cent 'yes').
Legal Framework
Canada's 2000 Clarity Act allows pieces of Canada to leave provided there is a 'clear will to secede.'
The one thing
Alberta's independence referendum lost overwhelmingly, becoming the third Canadian subnational jurisdiction to fail at secession after Quebec's 1980 and 1995 votes.
