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QuickQuotes: Leaders react to Alberta referendum results to remain in Canada
QuickQuotes: Canadian leaders react to referendum
THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh
Albertans voted overwhelmingly to stay in Canada on Monday in a historic referendum vote.
In early returns, about three in four Albertans said yes to Confederation, while about one in four said they wanted the province to hold a second, binding referendum on leaving.
The separation question was one of 10 put to Albertans. The other nine focused on immigration and the Constitution.
Here's what some Canadian leaders are saying.
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"Thank you, Alberta! I’m very pleased to see the initial results from Elections Alberta show widespread support for remaining in Canada. Albertans have voted for a stronger Alberta in a united Canada.
"Thank you to all Albertans who took time to vote on these critically important referendum questions."
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith
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"It's a great day for Canada … I'm thrilled that Albertans have chosen unity. They've chosen to build together. They've chosen to continue to take care of each other, to move forward together with purpose, high ambition.
"I'd like to thank all of the volunteers who supported the election, of course those who campaigned on all sides, the electoral volunteers who were still counting some of the votes, above all, Albertans for turning out in numbers, participating in the democratic process."
Prime Minister Mark Carney
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"At a time when our country is under threat and when we need to come together as Canadians, this result represents a clear rejection of the politics of division.
"Well over one million Albertans came together to give us something all too rare these days: a moment of hope.
"We know things are tough in Alberta, from health care to the cost of living, to the embattled education system and so much more … But as so many Albertans have shown us, we don't fix our problems by turning on each other."
NDP Leader Avi Lewis
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"Canada is stronger with Alberta as part of it, and last night’s results show the overwhelming majority of Albertans agree with this. Many Nova Scotians have strong ties to Alberta, either having worked there or with friends and family going to their province to help build up their industry.
"Here in Nova Scotia, we’ll keep doing our part to develop our own natural resources, create opportunities and contribute to a stronger Canada."
Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 20, 2026.
Copyright 2026, The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.
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Albertans split in early returns on remaining 9 referendum questions
Albertans split on other 9 referendum questions
THE CANADIAN PRESS/James Maclennan
While Albertans roundly rejected separation in Monday’s referendum, results were decidedly closer in early returns on nine other questions.
Premier Danielle Smith also polled Albertans on five questions on immigration and four about seeking a mandate to work with other provinces to change the Constitution and wrest more power from Ottawa.
The immigration questions asked whether Alberta should have more say on who comes to the province to work and whether it’s time to put more limitations — and perhaps introduce fees — on some who seek access to health care and education.
Smith has said immigration is a benefit but must be economically sustainable. Critics have called the questions anti-immigrant dog-whistling.
Edmonton Mayor Andrew Knack said Monday that not only does Alberta need to move on from separation, it should also ditch the immigration questions.
"Edmontonians are the ones most directly impacted by those five questions, and I don't want our neighbours to feel like they're not welcome in our city," Knack said.
"They are welcome in our city no matter who they are, no matter what they believe in, no matter any of that."
At a polling station in Calgary, voters were split.
Jamie Fisher said she supports all nine. "I don't think it's been fair (to Alberta) for a really long time, and I think a lot of people need to really hear that message," she said.
Amneet Mann characterized some of the questions as anti-immigrant.
"I just don't think that's what this country stands for," she said. "I think it's crazy that we're here and we have to make that known."
The constitutional questions asked Albertans for a blessing to pursue talks with other provinces on gaining control from Ottawa and abolishing the Senate.
Smith said those issues are pressing. Critics have called them posturing.
Smith said she voted to stay in Canada but needed a yes to the nine questions to get a mandate to bargain with Prime Minister Mark Carney. Her government commissioned a $4-million advertising campaign urging Albertans vote yes to the nine.
The nine became a passive-aggressive dance between Smith and Carney as the campaign wound down, with each publicly poking the other in the eye.
Last week, Carney barnstormed the province to rally support for federalists and was mobbed by cheering, back-patting selfie-seekers. On Thursday, he leveraged the opportunity and popularity in Smith’s metaphorical backyard of Calgary to publicly urge Albertans to reject the nine questions.
Smith scrambled to pivot the narrative. A day later, at a joint event in a Red Deer brewery, she pointedly handed Carney her government’s explanatory referendum booklet to get him get up to speed on the nine issues.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 20, 2026.
-- With files from Dayne Patterson in Calgary
By Jack Farrell | Copyright 2026, The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.
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Wainwright, Alta., residents grieving but resilient after tragic fire on army base
Army town remains stoic after military base fire
THE CANADIAN PRESS/Christopher Katsarov
Residents of a central Alberta town are grieving after a vicious fire killed four men and injured dozens more at a nearby military base, but living alongside soldiers preparing for battle has built up a deep stoicism and resilience in the community.
"It's heartbreaking. My heart goes out to the families but we'll bounce back," said Sharon Pashko, 79, whose uncle was once commander of CFB Wainwright.
Pashko said the community, about 200 kilometres southeast of Edmonton, takes care of its own and should be proud.
"We've gone above and beyond and I'm very proud of Wainwright residents," she added.
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre has been meeting with constituents in the town, which is in his Battle River-Crowfoot riding. He said while many unanswered questions remain, people are coping.
"I'm just amazed how resilient and strong the people are. Nobody's breaking. Everyone's just putting their head down and they're doing their jobs. It's the best of Canada," he said.
"They're obviously heartbroken. They see the loss of these brilliant young men in the springtimes of their lives but at the same time they bounce back and they keep working to support the living."
Wainwright Mayor Bruce Pugh said the base has always been a part of the community.
"It's a part of us and we're a part of it. It's a symbiotic relationship," he said.
Despite the temporary closure of the local polling station for Alberta's referendum, a steady stream of voters continued to cast ballots Monday.
"A couple of friends of mine from church are in the military and I've heard, last night, that they were actually both in Latvia right now,” Dustin Degenhardt said after voting.
“I'm grateful that they're safe, but at the same time I know hearts are here too.”
Degenhardt said the tragedy didn't affect how he voted and sees the two as separate issues. Other residents shared that view, while some said the shadow of the fire loomed over their decision.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 20, 2026.
By David Baxter and Bill Graveland | Copyright 2026, The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.
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