Alberta to hold referendum on whether to remain in Canada

Alberta volition clasp a referendum connected whether the state should stay successful Canada oregon determination up with a 2nd binding ballot connected separation, marking the archetypal important trial of the country's unity successful decades.

Thursday's announcement by Premier Danielle Smith comes aft a citizen-led petition calling for separation gathered much than 300,000 signatures aboriginal this twelvemonth and a abstracted petition advocating for Alberta to enactment gathered much than 400,000.

A restive independency question has been increasing successful the oil-rich province, built connected a long-held consciousness that Alberta is overlooked by decision-makers successful Ottawa.

Still, sentiment polls suggest that the bulk of Albertans would ballot against separating.

The provincial referendum has been scheduled for 19 October, the premier said.

Smith, successful a televised address, said the question being enactment to Albertans this coming autumn volition beryllium be: "Should Alberta stay a state of Canada oregon should the Government of Alberta commence the ineligible process required nether the Canadian Constitution to clasp a binding provincial referendum connected whether oregon not Alberta should abstracted from Canada?"

The premier said she herself volition ballot successful favour of Alberta remaining a portion of Canada.

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