Trump threatens annexation, promotes unity, Canada’s Alberta rejects independence proposal, secession crisis temporarily resolved

Canada Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) predicted as of the morning local time on the 20th,Oil Voters in the resource-rich province of Alberta on the 19th rejected a proposal to launch an independent process, giving victory to Prime Minister Mark Carney and those supporting Canadian unity.

The Associated Press reports that the vote is not a direct referendum on independence, but if the motion passes, it would put Alberta on the path to holding a vote on leaving Canada in the future. After more than 1 million votes were counted, approximately 76% of voters supported remaining in Canada, while another 23% supported starting a process that could lead to separation from Canada.

Alberta has the world’s fourth-largest proven oil reserves, a thriving cowboy culture and a conservative stronghold, and its political culture has long had more in common with the American West than many other parts of Canada. Dissatisfaction with the federal government is deeply rooted but has not translated into widespread support for independence as in the past. Premier Daniel Smith, who opposes independence, decided to hold the referendum under pressure from separatists in the ruling United Conservative Party.

Wainwright voter Dustin Degenhart said Albertans have long been treated unfairly by Ottawa. “Alberta has basically been treated like, you know, a colony. They just want to take, take, take from us and give nothing back,” he said after the vote.

Edmonton resident Dave Malka, 59, criticized the government for spending money on a “referendum on health care” instead of health care, saying:trump He said of the threat to Canada, “This seems like it’s happening at the worst possible time. We should be united now, but instead we’re fighting each other.”

Liberal prime ministers have always been unpopular in Alberta, but Trump’s trade war and threats to make Canada the 51st state of the United States have helped current Prime Minister Carney rally support and urge Alberta voters to support national unity with a decisive vote. Carney said at a rally in Edmonton, where he grew up, on the 16th: “When you vote, you have to have the mentality that ‘the future of Canada depends on this vote,’ because that’s the truth.”