Alberta Rejects Secession from Canada in First Referendum

Residents of Alberta voted to remain part of Canada in the province's first referendum on secession, according to preliminary results released Tuesday. The outcome was a needed win for Prime Minister Mark Carney in his effort to keep the country united while the trade war with the United States continues.

According to preliminary results, with more than one million ballots counted, about 76% supported remaining in Canada, while 23% backed launching a process that could lead to secession.

The vote was not a direct referendum on independence, but had the result gone the other way, it would have put Alberta — an oil-rich province — on a path toward a future vote on separating from Canada.