2026 Alberta referendum

2026 Alberta referendum

On October 19, 2026 a referendum was held in Alberta on ten separate ballot questions, one of which addressed Albertan independence from Canada. Alberta premier Danielle Smith had previously announced the referendum in February of the same year. In her address, she announced that Albertans will be asked to vote on nine questions. Five questions were non-constitutional and pertained to immigration laws and election security in Alberta. The other four were constitutional, and relate to Alberta's relationship with the Government of Canada, seeking amendments to the Constitution of Canada. On May 21, 2026, Smith announced a tenth referendum question, on whether Alberta should remain within Canada or pursue a path toward a binding referendum on separating from Canada. For the first 9 ballot questions, results have not yet been finalized, however, on the question of Albertan independence, the CBC projected a "no" result at 11:12 PM local (Mountain) Time.

Background

Referendum process

In early 2026, premier Danielle Smith promised a referendum on immigration, social services, and Constitutional questions arising from the Alberta Next town halls. On March 31, 2026, the Government of Alberta approved two orders-in-council under the Referendum Act which posed nine questions to Albertans on October 19, 2026. The results of the non-constitutional questions are non-binding on the government. In April, the government launched a website intended to educate voters on the referendum questions; however, the website was criticized as a biased use of government funds to persuade voters to vote in favour of the questions.

The referendum was administered under Alberta's Referendum Act and Election Act. Eligible voters were residents who are Canadian citizens, aged 18 years or older, and an ordinary resident at the time of the vote.

Previous referendums in Alberta

Seven provincial referendums have occurred in Alberta. Referendums on prohibition occurred in (/wiki/1915Albertaliquorplebiscite), (/wiki/1920Canadianliquorplebiscites), and (/wiki/1923Albertaprohibitionplebiscite). A referendum was held in 1948 on the creation of a provincial government electrical utility. There were also referendums on changes to liquor laws in (/wiki/1957Albertaliquorplebiscite); daylight saving time in (/wiki/1967Albertageneralelection#Daylightsavingtimeplebiscite) and in (/wiki/1971Albertageneralelection#Daylightsavingtimeplebiscite), and in (/wiki/2021Albertareferendum) referendums on cancellation of Canada's equalization program and daylight saving time.

Alberta sovereignty petitions

Support for Alberta separatism has increased since the 2015 Canadian federal election, where Liberal Party of Canada leader Justin Trudeau was elected prime minister of Canada. This continued after the 2025 Canadian federal election, in which his successor, Mark Carney, led the Liberals to a fourth consecutive term in government.

Under Alberta's Citizen Initiative Act, Albertans can petition the government to hold a referendum on a topic once a certain number of signatures are collected. On May 15, 2025, the law was modified to lower the threshold for triggering a citizen initiative petition from 20% of eligible voters to 10% of votes cast in the previous election, and extended the signature-gathering period for petitions from 90 days to 120 days.

Two petitions have allegedly reached the minimum signature triggers. As of May 2026, neither petition question is present on the October 2026 referendum. Thomas Lukaszuk's Alberta Forever Canada petition was verified by Elections Alberta to have collected 404,293 signatures, and asks: "Do you agree that Alberta should remain in Canada?" The Stay Free Alberta petition claims to have collected over 301,000 signatures, and asks: "Do you agree that the province of Alberta shall become a sovereign country and cease to be a province in Canada?"

Results

Non-constitutional questions

1. Do you support the Government of Alberta taking increased control over immigration for the purposes of decreasing immigration to more sustainable levels, prioritizing economic migration and giving Albertans first priority on new employment opportunities?

97% reporting
Choice		Votes	%
For		1,093,541	54.64
Against		907,731	45.36
Total		2,001,272	100.00
Source: Elections Alberta

2. Do you support the Government of Alberta introducing a law mandating that only Canadian citizens, permanent residents and individuals with an Alberta-approved immigration status will be eligible for provincially-funded programs, such as health care, education and other social services?

97% reporting
Choice		Votes	%
For		1,032,950	52.32
Against		941,379	47.68
Total		1,974,329	100.00
Source: Elections Alberta

3. Assuming that all Canadian citizens and permanent residents continue to qualify for social support programs as they do now, do you support the Government of Alberta introducing a law requiring all individuals with a non-permanent legal immigration status to reside in Alberta for at least 12 months before qualifying for any provincially-funded social support programs?

97% reporting
Choice		Votes	%
For		1,053,247	53.05
Against		932,163	46.95
Total		1,985,410	100.00
Source: Elections Alberta

4. Assuming that all Canadian citizens and permanent residents continue to qualify for public health care and education as they do now, do you support the Government of Alberta charging a reasonable fee or premium to individuals with a non-permanent immigration status living in Alberta for their and their family's use of the healthcare and education systems?

97% reporting
Choice		Votes	%
For		1,007,376	52.29
Against		919,120	47.71
Total		1,926,496	100.00
Source: Elections Alberta

5. Do you support the Government of Alberta introducing a law requiring individuals to provide proof of citizenship, such as a passport, birth certificate, or citizenship card, to vote in an Alberta provincial election?

97% reporting
Choice		Votes	%
For		1,083,647	59.75
Against		730,033	40.25
Total		1,813,680	100.00
Source: Elections Alberta

Constitutional questions

6. Do you support the Government of Alberta working with the governments of other willing provinces to amend the Canadian Constitution to have provincial governments, and not the federal government, select the justices appointed to provincial King's Bench and Appeal courts?

97% reporting
Choice		Votes	%
For		832,386	47.55
Against		918,241	52.45
Total		1,750,627	100.00
Source: Elections Alberta

7. Do you support the Government of Alberta working with the governments of other willing provinces to amend the Canadian Constitution to abolish the unelected federal Senate?

97.6% reporting
Choice		Votes	%
For		898,093	49.21
Against		926,950	50.79
Total		1,825,043	100.00
Source: Elections Alberta

8. Do you support the Government of Alberta working with the governments of other willing provinces to amend the Canadian Constitution to allow provinces to opt out of federal programs that intrude on provincial jurisdiction such as health care, education, and social services, without a province losing any of the associated federal funding for use in its social programs?

97% reporting
Choice		Votes	%
For		752,760	46.81
Against		855,376	53.19
Total		1,608,136	100.00
Source: Elections Alberta

9. Do you support the Government of Alberta working with the governments of other willing provinces to amend the Canadian Constitution to better protect provincial rights from federal interference by giving a province's laws dealing with provincial or shared areas of constitutional jurisdiction priority over federal laws when the province's laws and federal laws conflict?

97% reporting
Choice		Votes	%
For		785,995	49.78
Against		792,812	50.22
Total		1,578,807	100.00
Source: Elections Alberta

Independence question

10. Should Alberta remain a province of Canada or should the Government of Alberta commence the legal process required under the Canadian Constitution to hold a binding provincial referendum on whether or not Alberta should separate from Canada?

97% reporting
Choice		Votes	%
Remain		1,533,518	75.05
Referendum		509,751	24.95
Total		2,043,269	100.00
Source: Elections Alberta

Polling

2026 Alberta referendum

An October 2026 Pollara poll found the following results.

<table><thead><tr><th>Question</th><th>Support</th><th>Oppose</th><th>Not sure</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Do you support the Government of Alberta introducing a law requiring individuals to provide proof of citizenship, such as a passport, birth certificate, or citizenship card, to vote in an AB provincial election?</td><td>65%</td><td>30%</td><td>5%</td></tr><tr><td>Do you support the Government of Alberta introducing a law requiring all people who are not Canadian citizens or permanent residents to reside in Alberta for at least 12 months before qualifying for any provincially funded social support programs?</td><td>63%</td><td>32%</td><td>5%</td></tr><tr><td>Do you support the Government of Alberta introducing a law that only Canadian citizens/permanent residents/individuals with AB-approved immigration status will be eligible for provincially funded programs (health care/education/other social services)?</td><td>62%</td><td>33%</td><td>5%</td></tr><tr><td>Do you support the Government of Alberta taking increased control over immigration for purposes of decreasing immigration to more sustainable levels/prioritizing economic migration/giving Albertans 1st priority on employment opportunities?</td><td>60%</td><td>34%</td><td>6%</td></tr><tr><td>Do you support the Government of Alberta charging a reasonable fee or premium to people who are not Canadian citizens or permanent residents for their & their family’s use of the health care & education systems?</td><td>58%</td><td>35%</td><td>6%</td></tr><tr><td>Do you support abolishing the unelected federal Senate?</td><td>41%</td><td>36%</td><td>22%</td></tr><tr><td>Do you support having provincial governments, & not the federal government, select the justices appointed to provincial King’s Bench & Appeal courts?</td><td>43%</td><td>41%</td><td>16%</td></tr><tr><td>Do you support giving provincial laws dealing with provincial or shared areas of constitutional jurisdiction priority over federal laws when provincial & federal laws conflict?</td><td>43%</td><td>42%</td><td>15%</td></tr><tr><td>Do you support allowing provinces to opt out of federal programs that intrude on provincial jurisdiction such as health care/education/social services, without a province losing any of the associated federal funding for use in its social programs?</td><td>41%</td><td>48%</td><td>11%</td></tr></tbody></table>

A September 2026 Angus Reid poll found the following results.

Question	Support	Oppose	Not sure
Do you support the Government of Alberta taking increased control over immigration for the purposes of decreasing immigration to more sustainable levels, prioritizing economic migration and giving Albertans first priority on new employment opportunities?	62%	33%	8%
Do you support the Government of Alberta introducing a law mandating that only Canadian citizens, permanent residents and individuals with an Alberta-approved immigration status will be eligible for provincially-funded programs, such as health care, education and other social services?	61%	31%	5%
Do you support the Government of Alberta working with the governments of other willing provinces to amend the Canadian Constitution to allow provinces to opt out of federal programs that intrude on provincial jurisdiction such as health care, education and social services, without a province losing any of the associated federal funding for use in its social programs?	44%	44%	5%

An August 2026 Research Co. poll found the following results.

<table><thead><tr><th>Question</th><th>Support</th><th>Oppose</th><th>Not sure</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Do you support the Government of Alberta taking increased control over immigration for the purposes of decreasing immigration to more sustainable levels, prioritizing economic migration and giving Albertans first priority on new employment opportunities?</td><td>65%</td><td>26%</td><td>10%</td></tr><tr><td>Do you support the Government of Alberta introducing a law mandating that only Canadian citizens, permanent residents and individuals with an Alberta-approved immigration status will be eligible for provincially-funded programs, such as health care, education and other social services?</td><td>58%</td><td>32%</td><td>10%</td></tr><tr><td>Assuming that all Canadian citizens and permanent residents continue to qualify for social support programs as they do now, do you support the Government of Alberta introducing a law requiring all individuals with a non-permanent legal immigration status to reside in Alberta for at least 12 months before qualifying for any provincially-funded social support programs?</td><td>60%</td><td>26%</td><td>14%</td></tr><tr><td>Assuming that all Canadian citizens and permanent residents continue to qualify for public health care and education as they do now, do you support the Government of Alberta charging a reasonable fee or premium to individuals with a non-permanent immigration status living in Alberta for their and their family's use of the health care and education systems?</td><td>60%</td><td>28%</td><td>13%</td></tr><tr><td>Do you support the Government of Alberta introducing a law requiring individuals to provide proof of citizenship, such as a passport, birth certificate or citizenship card, to vote in an Alberta provincial election?</td><td>66%</td><td>24%</td><td>9%</td></tr><tr><td>Do you support the Government of Alberta working with the governments of other willing provinces to amend the Canadian Constitution to have provincial governments, and not the federal government, select the justices appointed to provincial King's Bench and Appeal courts?</td><td>45%</td><td>31%</td><td>23%</td></tr><tr><td>Do you support the Government of Alberta working with the governments of other willing provinces to amend the Canadian Constitution to abolish the unelected federal Senate?</td><td>39%</td><td>33%</td><td>28%</td></tr><tr><td>Do you support the Government of Alberta working with the governments of other willing provinces to amend the Canadian Constitution to allow provinces to opt out of federal programs that intrude on provincial jurisdiction such as health care, education and social services, without a province losing any of the associated federal funding for use in its social programs?</td><td>41%</td><td>40%</td><td>18%</td></tr><tr><td>Do you support the Government of Alberta working with the governments of other willing provinces to amend the Canadian Constitution to better protect provincial rights from federal interference by giving a province's laws dealing with provincial or shared areas of constitutional jurisdiction priority over federal laws when the province's laws and federal laws conflict?</td><td>46%</td><td>33%</td><td>20%</td></tr></tbody></table>

A July 2026 ACS-Leger poll found the following results. % Support:

<table><thead><tr><th>Question</th><th>Total</th><th>Atl.</th><th>QC</th><th>ON</th><th>MB/SK</th><th>AB</th><th>BC</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Do you support the Government of Alberta taking increased control over immigration for the purposes of decreasing immigration to more sustainable levels, prioritizing economic migration and giving Albertans first priority on new employment opportunities?</td><td>69%</td><td>74%</td><td>78%</td><td>67%</td><td>60%</td><td>64%</td><td>66%</td></tr><tr><td>Do you support the Government of Alberta introducing a law mandating that only Canadian citizens, permanent residents and individuals with an Alberta approved immigration status will be eligible for provincially-funded programs, such as health care, education and other social services?</td><td>74%</td><td>81%</td><td>77%</td><td>72%</td><td>77%</td><td>71%</td><td>77%</td></tr><tr><td>Assuming that all Canadian citizens and permanent residents continue to qualify for public health care and education as they do now, do you support the Government of Alberta charging a reasonable fee or premium to individuals with a non-permanent immigration status living in Alberta for their and their family's use of the health care and education systems?</td><td>75%</td><td>84%</td><td>79%</td><td>72%</td><td>79%</td><td>68%</td><td>78%</td></tr><tr><td>Assuming that all Canadian citizens and permanent residents continue to qualify for public health care and education as they do now, do you support the Government of Alberta charging a reasonable fee or premium to individuals with a non-permanent immigration status living in Alberta for their and their family’s use of the healthcare and education systems?</td><td>73%</td><td>80%</td><td>74%</td><td>72%</td><td>75%</td><td>65%</td><td>75%</td></tr><tr><td>Do you support the Government of Alberta introducing a law requiring individuals to provide proof of citizenship, such as a passport, birth certificate or citizenship card, to vote in an Alberta provincial election?</td><td>76%</td><td>83%</td><td>79%</td><td>72%</td><td>73%</td><td>76%</td><td>77%</td></tr><tr><td>Do you support the Government of Alberta working with the governments of other willing provinces to amend the Canadian Constitution to have provincial governments, and not the federal government, select the justices appointed to provincial King’s Bench and Appeal courts?</td><td>55%</td><td>59%</td><td>65%</td><td>47%</td><td>50%</td><td>52%</td><td>60%</td></tr><tr><td>Do you support the Government of Alberta working with the governments of other willing provinces to amend the Canadian Constitution to abolish the unelected federal Senate?</td><td>57%</td><td>57%</td><td>67%</td><td>51%</td><td>48%</td><td>54%</td><td>63%</td></tr><tr><td>Do you support the Government of Alberta working with the governments of other willing provinces to amend the Canadian Constitution to allow provinces to opt out of federal programs that intrude on provincial jurisdiction such as health care, education, and social services, without a province losing any of the associated federal funding for use in its social programs?</td><td>47%</td><td>42%</td><td>59%</td><td>40%</td><td>43%</td><td>47%</td><td>51%</td></tr><tr><td>Do you support the Government of Alberta working with the governments of other willing provinces to amend the Canadian Constitution to better protect provincial rights from federal interference by giving a province’s laws dealing with provincial or shared areas of constitutional jurisdiction priority over federal laws when the province’s laws and federal laws conflict?</td><td>64%</td><td>75%</td><td>73%</td><td>57%</td><td>67%</td><td>62%</td><td>61%</td></tr></tbody></table>

A March 2026 Leger poll found the following results.

<table><thead><tr><th>Question</th><th>Support</th><th>Oppose</th><th>Don't know</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Would you support or oppose a policy where only Canadian citizens, permanent residents, and individuals with a provincially approved immigration status would be eligible for provincially funded programs such as public health care, education, and other social services?</td><td>63%</td><td>24%</td><td>12%</td></tr><tr><td>Would you support or oppose charging a reasonable fee or premium to individuals with a non-permanent immigration status for their and their family's use of public health care and education systems?</td><td>64%</td><td>24%</td><td>12%</td></tr><tr><td>Would you support or oppose a policy requiring individuals with a non-permanent legal immigration status to live in a province for at least 12 months before qualifying for provincially funded social support programs?</td><td>66%</td><td>23%</td><td>12%</td></tr></tbody></table>