Oil-rich Alberta to hold a vote on whether to separate from Canada
Canada's oil-rich Alberta will put separation from the federation to a public vote. The referendum, triggered by frustration with federal carbon policies on oil sands, has heightened political tensions in the province that produces half of the country's energy exports.
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith announced that separation from the Canadian federation will be put to a public vote in the province. The referendum is not legally binding but will create a political mandate. Smith framed the decision as a response to 'Ottawa's obstruction of our oil sands'. Federal carbon-pricing policy and pipeline-approval processes have stoked deep frustration in the province over the past three years.
Alberta accounts for roughly 80 percent of Canada's oil production and more than half of its natural-gas exports. The province's GDP is around C$480 billion and its population is 4.9 million. Calgary-based Suncor Energy, Cenovus and Canadian Natural Resources are pillars of the provincial economy. An October Léger poll found 31 percent of Albertans support separation, while 51 percent would prefer to remain in the federation.
Prime Minister Pierre Poilievre called the decision 'irresponsibly divisive'. Constitutional scholars said any legal framework for separation would need to follow a process broadly comparable to Quebec's 1995 referendum. Oil prices eased slightly after the news, while the Canadian dollar weakened 0.4 percent against the US dollar.
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