Canada's Alberta votes to remain in federation, projections show

A majority of voters in Canada's western province of Alberta voted to remain part of the country, Canadian broadcaster CBC News projected following a nonbinding referendum.

As of 0630GMT, with 1,961 of 5,587 polling stations reporting, preliminary figures showed 76.6% of voters, or 946,632 people, favored remaining in Canada, while 23.4%, or 288,879 voters, supported initiating the separation process.

The referendum asked voters: "Should Alberta remain a province of Canada, or should the Government of Alberta commence the legal process required under the Canadian Constitution to hold a binding provincial referendum on whether or not Alberta should separate from Canada?"

"Albertans made a clear choice. They chose unity, to build together, and to take care of each other," Prime Minister Mark Carney said in a statement, welcoming the vote.

He said the vote meant Albertans and all Canadians "will move forward together with renewed purpose and high ambition."

"Canada is so much greater than the sum of its parts," he added.

Danielle Smith, premier of the oil- and gas-rich province, said she was "pleased" that Albertans voted against secession and thanked residents for participating in the "critically important referendum."

Around 1.36 million residents cast ballots through advance and special voting mechanisms, according to provincial election agency Elections Alberta.

The ballot included 10 questions, with the first nine addressing immigration and constitutional matters and the final question focusing on Alberta's future within Canada.

The referendum is nonbinding and does not automatically determine whether Alberta leaves the Canadian federation.

Elections Alberta said ballots would be counted by hand, with the separation question counted first.

The agency said unofficial results were expected within 48 hours of polls closing, while official results were scheduled for Oct. 29.