Albertans have voted overwhelmingly to stick with Canada in an historic referendum held in the province yesterday, but what it means for Premier Danielle Smith and her United Conservative Party remains to be seen.
Just 24.3 per cent of voters in that province chose to pursue a formal referendum on separation on the ten question ballot.
While the results on the referendum question were decisive, it could also help to entrench the organized separatist movement in Alberta.
Dalhousie University political scientist Lori Turnbull says when it comes to the other nine questions on the ballot, the results were much closer. That’s something that Prime Minister Mark Carney will have to keep a close eye on.
Lori Turnbull (VOCM News)
“They want more leverage, they want more control over things like immigration, social policy, and so, what is she (Danielle Smith) going to be able to do with that? I’m not sure she’s going to be able to do anything with that frankly, because of the results of Question Ten.”
“However, it does indicate that…the country needs to work better for Alberta. So, yes, Mark Carney will still have to be attentive to that.”
What it means for Danielle Smith’s political future, remains unclear.
“No matter what happened in the referendum last night, her political leadership won’t survive it for very long. Because it just rips her party apart, rips it in half, so, we’ll see how she survives the next few days.”
