Early Vote Numbers Show Calgary’s Stance on Alberta Referendum

The preliminary results from the Alberta referendum, which took place on October 19, are starting to come in, and Calgary residents are showing a clear preference for staying in Canada. As I sit in my living room in Calgary, the light filtering through the window gives me a sense of the city’s quiet confidence, which is reflected in the early voting numbers.

Looking specifically at question 10, which asks whether Alberta should remain in Canada or begin the process for a future separation referendum, Calgary-South East is leading with 23.3% of votes supporting the referendum option. Calgary-Hays and Calgary-Fish Creek are close behind, at 22.1% and 20% respectively. Meanwhile, Calgary-Bhullar-McCall is lagging at 10.7%, followed by Calgary-Edgemont at 14.3% and Calgary-Falconridge at 14.6%. The numbers are still changing as more areas report their totals, but it’s clear that a significant portion of Calgary voters are choosing to stay in Canada.

Across the board, more voters are supporting questions that maintain the status quo, such as keeping the current voting requirements and access to provincially funded services. However, the closest race is question eight, which asks whether provinces should be able to opt out of certain federal programs that fall under provincial jurisdiction without losing the associated funding. Over 480,000 voters are opposed to this proposal, while more than 500,000 support it.