# Alberta separatists suffer decisive defeat in independence vote > More than two-thirds of Alberta voters reject separation in a non-binding referendum, dealing a major blow to the independence movement. - Title: Alberta separatists suffer decisive defeat in independence… - Summary: More than two-thirds of Alberta voters reject separation in a non-binding referendum, dealing a major blow to the independence movement. Alberta voters… - Keywords: alberta, canada, separation referendum, separatism, danielle smith, mark carney, western alienation, provincial politics, news, world, separatists, suffer - Source: BBC News — https://bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cjly016320q1o - Published: 2026-10-20T13:39:11.699+00:00 - Read time: 2 min - Topics: alberta, canada, separation referendum, separatism, danielle smith, mark carney, western alienation, provincial politics, news, world ## Alberta votes decisively to stay in Canada Preliminary results show more than two-thirds of Alberta voters rejected separation in a non-binding referendum, sending a clear message they want to remain in Canada. ## Separatist leader Mitch Sylvestre disappointed Separatist leader Mitch Sylvestre said he was not happy with the result, which came after more than a year of campaigning and pushing for a vote on separation. > Not happy ## Prime Minister Carney celebrates the outcome Prime Minister Mark Carney said in a statement that Albertans made a clear choice, celebrating the result almost immediately after the preliminary numbers were announced. > Albertans made a clear choice ## Separatists vow to continue their fight Jeffrey Rath, a Calgary lawyer and main spokesperson for Alberta separation, said he and others plan to roll up their sleeves and work harder. Keith Wilson told supporters the conversation about Alberta's future will continue. ## Premier Smith's gamble on the referendum Premier Danielle Smith, who openly supported the unity vote, lowered the petition threshold to get the campaign on the ballot and made the referendum non-binding to avoid a court decision blocking the pro-separation petition. ## Smith faces criticism from separatist base Jeffrey Rath said Smith has lost the confidence of the United Conservative Party base. She has led the party since two thousand twenty-two and faces potential tension with Prime Minister Carney over future policy. > She's lost the confidence of the (party) base ## Western alienation rooted in oil and gas anger Separatist sentiment stems from western alienation, a decades-old feeling that Ottawa ignores western provinces. Albertans believe the federal government has undermined the province's oil and gas industry through environmental policies. ## Alberta looks to Quebec's sovereigntist playbook Quebec held separation referendums in nineteen eighty and nineteen ninety-five, both defeated by close margins. Despite low sovereignty support, Quebec's newly elected government pledged to hold a third referendum by twenty thirty. ## Rath sees future possibility for separatists Jeffrey Rath noted that the sovereigntist Parti Quebecois formed Quebec's government with twenty-eight percent of the vote. > It's not out of the realm of possibility ## Key takeaway Alberta voters decisively rejected separation in a non-binding referendum, with more than two-thirds voting to remain in Canada and potentially halting the separatist movement.