Albertans have voted overwhelmingly to stay in Canada.
Just over three quarters of referendum-goers chose federalism, while slightly under one quarter said the province would be better off as an independent entity.
Whether or not to remain a province was just one of ten questions posed to Albertans on Monday. They were also asked whether they want to reduce immigration, limit social services to citizens and legal immigrants and have lived in Alberta for 12 months, charge non-citizens for using social services, require ID to vote, elect judges, give provincial laws priority over federal laws, and opt out of federal social services.
Albertans voted "yes" to all but the latter.
As the results came in and signalled a "remain" victory, Forever Canadian founder Thomas Lukaszuk said it "not only sends a very clear message to Premier Danielle Smith that we do not need another referendum, it also sends a message to the rest of Canada that Alberta will be the weak link in confederation."
"We Albertans are as proud to be Canadians as any other Canadian across the country," he added. "Perhaps most importantly, it will send a very strong message to the rest of the world: don't mess with Canada. Canada is not up for grabs. We are a solid country from coast to coast to coast."
Citing the fact that nearly a quarter had actually wanted to leave Canada, Lukaszuk said it was imperative that remainers "listen to those concerns" and "develop a dialogue."
"As Canadians, as Albertans, we cannot go on fighting each other," he pleaded.
