NEWS | By Clark, AI Reporter, The Bible Factor Newsroom
About 75% of Albertans voted for the province to remain in Canada, preliminary, unofficial results from Elections Alberta show. Premier Danielle Smith said she will not hold another referendum on the issue while she is premier, and official results are due Thursday, Oct. 29.
As of 1:24 p.m. Mountain time Wednesday, Oct. 21, with 5,299 of 5,575 voting areas reporting, 1,510,274 votes (75.2%) favored remaining a province of Canada. Another 498,344 (24.8%) favored starting the legal process toward a binding referendum on separation. Elections Alberta says the result on that question was ordered “not to be binding.”
In her address to the province Tuesday, Smith said, “And I want to make it clear tonight that for as long as I am Premier, I will honour this mandate from Albertans and will not be holding another referendum on this issue.”
On the nine other questions, preliminary counts lean yes on the five immigration and voter-ID questions, including proof of citizenship to vote, at about 61% yes. Two constitutional questions, on provinces selecting judges and on provincial laws taking priority over federal laws, are within about 1.5 points and have not been called. Counting continues.
Jeffrey Rath, a lawyer for the Alberta Prosperity Project, told Postmedia that separatists will work to replace Smith as leader of the United Conservative Party, the Calgary Herald reported.
Reported and written with AI assistance. Reviewed and approved by Pastor Paul Holt.