Albertans voted in a referendum Monday against separation.
asserted
Albertans → vote → separation
In early results, about 76 per cent of said they wanted the province to stay in Canada, while 24 per cent said they wanted the province to hold a second, binding referendum on leaving the country.
asserted
province → say → country
Here’s a look at some of the other referendums held across Canada:
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look → ’ → Canada
2021 — Alberta on daylight time
The province asked residents whether it should adopt year-round daylight time — the time often used across Canada in the summer — to put an end to twice-yearly clock changes.
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it → ask → changes
Out of more than 1 million votes, 50.2 per cent were against the idea, while 48.8 per cent were in favour of ditching clock changes.
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cent → ditch → changes
Premier Danielle Smith announced this year that starting Nov. 1, the province is adopting year-round daylight time.
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province → announce → time
She said it’s to gauge opinion and that most people will agree.
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people → say → opinion
She said if she’s wrong, the government could put the matter to a vote in 2027.
uncertain
government → say → 2027
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2019 — Prince Edward Island electoral reform
Voters weighed in on electoral reform alongside the provincial election.
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Voters → weigh → election
It followed similar votes in 2016 and 2005, which both failed to eliminate the voting practice known as “first past the post.”
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which → follow → post
The referendum asked: “Should Prince Edward Island change its voting system to a mixed member proportional voting system?”
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Island → ask → system
The threshold for a win in either direction would have been 17, but neither side was able to secure that number — 13 districts voted against, while 14 voted in favour.
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2018 — British Columbia electoral reform
After failed votes in 2009 and 2005, the province held a third referendum on electoral reform.
Out of all ballots received, 61.3 per cent voted to keep first past the post, while proportional representation got 38.7 per cent.
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representation → secure → cent
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2007 — Ontario electoral reform
The referendum asked voters to chose between the existing first-past-the-post or the mixed-member proportional systems.
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referendum → ask → post
Voters overwhelmingly rejected mixed-member proportional representation, with Elections Ontario figures showing roughly 1.5 million people voted for change, while nearly 2.7 million voted against it.
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million → reject → it
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2001 — New Brunswick video lottery terminals
Voters were asked whether the province should ban VLTs, following a 1999 campaign promise by former premier Bernard Lord.
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province → ask → Lord
“Should the province of New Brunswick continue to permit the legal and regulated operation of video gaming devices, commonly known as video lottery terminals?”
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province → continue → terminals
About 53 per cent were in favour of keeping VLTs, while 47 per cent were opposed.
New Brunswick was the first to allow VLTs after Ottawa, in 1985, allowed provinces and territories to operate the machines.
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provinces → keep → machines
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1997 — Newfoundland education
Newfoundlanders voted in on the churches’ role in the province’s education system.
asserted
Newfoundlanders → vote → system
The referendum asked: “Do you support a single school system where all children, regardless of their religious affiliation, attend the same schools where opportunities for religious education and observances are provided?”
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opportunities → ask → education
More than 70 per cent of voters wanted to create a non-denominational public education system still allowing religious instruction and observance, ending the church-run school system.
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cent → want → system
In a similar vote two years earlier, voters narrowly approved the government’s plan to reform the church-run education system.
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voters → approve → system
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1995 — Quebec sovereignty
A razor-thin majority rejected the idea of the province leaving Confederation and becoming its own country.
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province → reject → Confederation
In a dramatic campaign, the sovereigntist side came from behind to take a lead in the polls in the final weeks before the vote.
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side → come → vote
In the end, 50.58 per cent voted no.
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cent → vote → end
Another vote was held in 1980, and 60 per cent also said no to sovereignty.
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cent → hold → sovereignty
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This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 20, 2026.
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report → publish → Press
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