Overview
- Advance voting is underway, which opened Tuesday and continues through Saturday ahead of the final vote on Monday.
- Prime Minister Mark Carney campaigned in Calgary on Thursday urging Albertans to vote to remain in Canada and warning of foreign influence seeking to exploit a split.
- Premier Danielle Smith cast an advance ballot for staying in Canada while defending the 10-question referendum package that includes a binding-sequel trigger on Question 10.
- Elections Alberta faces criticism after former chief electoral officer Glen Resler said special-ballot return rules forced him to try to mail his ballot and prevented in-person return, a practice Elections Alberta says reflects recent provincial law.
- Major legal limits remain because the Clarity Act requires federal negotiation for secession, an Alberta judge quashed a separatist petition over inadequate Indigenous consultation and the province has appealed, and polls show roughly 70% of Albertans favour remaining in Canada.