WASHINGTON, October 20. /TASS/. More than 76% of voters in Alberta opted to remain a province in Canada in a referendum on Monday, CBC television reported, citing the early voting results.
As many as 76.4% of voters supported staying in Canada and 23.6% backed beginning a process toward independence. A fourth of ballots from about 1 million voters had been counted.
Commenting on the referendum, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said Albertans had made a "clear choice." "They chose unity, to build together, and to take care of each other. Above all, Albertans chose Canada. While votes on all questions continue to be tallied, tonight’s results on the defining question of separation mean that Albertans and all Canadians will move forward together with renewed purpose and high ambition," the head of government said in a statement.
According to him, Canada is building new trade partnerships globally, "fast-tracking major, nation-building projects in every part of the country, and unleashing our full potential as a global energy superpower with Alberta at its core."