Alberta votes on whether to stay in Canada

Voters in Alberta go to the polls today in a referendum on the province's place in Canada.

They are being asked whether Alberta should remain in Canada, or hold a second, binding referendum on independence. A minority of Albertans have long argued that the province is short-changed by Ottawa and prevented from fully exploiting its vast oil and gas reserves.

A cautious premier

Alberta's premier, Danielle Smith, argued for years that a referendum was not needed, but called one after pressure from within her United Conservative party. She has not campaigned for independence, and estimated in June that separating would cost about C$400bn for the transition and up to C$50bn a year in running costs. Some separatists have accused her of betraying the cause.

"This is not poker"

Canada's prime minister, Mark Carney, who grew up in Alberta and is a former governor of the Bank of England, campaigned in Calgary and Edmonton last week. Having seen the upheaval that followed the Brexit vote, he warned: "This is not poker. A vote against Canada is a dangerous bluff that will lead to years of deep uncertainty and lost opportunities."

He acknowledged that "the frustrations that many Albertans have felt are real", and pointed to projects including a pipeline to the Pacific coast to get more Alberta crude to Asia.

The campaign to stay has brought together old rivals, including the former premiers Jason Kenney, a Conservative, and Rachel Notley, of the New Democrats.

A divided movement

The independence movement has been split by rivalries. Keith Wilson, one of its leading figures, has published a 214-page transition plan, calling most of the tasks "super easy". Others are less sure. "If we go out today, we'd be a failed state for generations," said Bill Jones, a member of the Wildrose Independence party.

First Nations

First Nations successfully sued to force the government to change the question, arguing that the land is covered by treaties signed with the Crown before the province existed. "The reality is Alberta does not have the constitutional right to separate," said Chief Troy Knowlton of the Blackfoot Confederacy.

A sombre backdrop

The campaign ended in sombre mood after a deadly fire on Saturday at CFB Wainwright, a major military base, which spread into the nearby town. Canada's armed forces reported multiple deaths and injuries.

The ballot also includes nine other questions, on matters such as social programmes, judicial appointments and the Senate.

Why it matters

Canada has faced independence votes before, most notably in Quebec, which narrowly voted to stay in 1995. For Britain, which shares the King as head of state with Canada, the vote has echoes of the Scottish independence referendum of 2014 and of the debates over Brexit.