Muhammad Amanullah
Date: October 10, 2026 The True Post (Web News) —Alberta Premier Danielle Smith has made it clear that if a majority of voters choose to remain part of Canada in the referendum scheduled for October 19, no second referendum on the province’s separation from Canada will be held during her time as premier.
Her statement comes as leaders of Alberta’s separatist movement maintain that their campaign will continue even if they lose the referendum.
No Second Vote During Her Premiership
Speaking to Canadian broadcaster’s chief correspondent, Adrienne Arsenault, in Calgary, Smith said there would be no second referendum on separation for as long as she remained premier if voters decided to stay in Canada.
She was asked whether she could guarantee that another referendum would not be held if the majority voted in favour of remaining part of Canada. Smith gave a direct response, saying that no such vote would take place during her premiership.
The statement came just over a week before the scheduled vote in Alberta. Voters will be presented with a total of 10 questions, covering matters including the province’s relationship with Canada, immigration and the country’s Constitution.
Differences With Separatist Leaders
Smith’s position differs from that of leaders who support Alberta’s separation from Canada. Separatist figures have already made it clear that they intend to continue their movement even if their position fails to secure majority support in the referendum.
Smith said she had spent several months trying to persuade people to vote in favour of remaining part of Canada. According to the premier, she wants Albertans to understand that maintaining the province’s relationship with Canada is in Alberta’s interests.
Discussing her interactions with separatist leaders, Smith said some of them viewed her as their biggest opponent. She said these leaders disliked her strong position in favour of remaining in Canada, adding that she was not in contact with some of them.
Referendum to Include 10 Questions
One of the questions in the October 19 referendum will ask whether Alberta should remain part of Canada or begin preparations for a second referendum that would be legally binding on the province’s separation from the country.
Five additional questions will concern immigration, while four will address Canada’s Constitution. The questions are intended to gauge public opinion on provincial powers, relations with the federal government and immigration policy.
Smith was also asked what level of majority or mandate would be required for the other nine questions, apart from the question on separation. She said most decisions were made according to the principle of majority rule.
She added that if voters rejected these questions, the government would have to focus on other issues and assess which matters were of greatest concern to Albertans.
Smith had previously described a result of 50 per cent plus one vote as a decisive majority for the separation question. However, she has not specified a particular threshold for the remaining questions.
Public Opinion and Political Pressure
A recent poll on the referendum found that 72 per cent of respondents supported remaining part of Canada, while 23 per cent favoured beginning the legal process towards separation. The survey therefore showed a clear lead for those supporting Alberta’s continued place in Canada.
However, the picture appeared different among supporters of Smith’s United Conservative Party (UCP). According to the poll, among respondents who intended to vote for the UCP, 53 per cent said they would support separation, while 40 per cent said they would vote to remain part of Canada.
Differences over the issue have also emerged within the governing party. UCP MLA Jason Stephan told a public meeting that he had voted in favour of moving towards a legally binding referendum on separation. A local UCP organisation in southern Alberta has also called for a review of Smith’s leadership.
Cooperation With Mark Carney’s Government
Smith also highlighted cooperation with Prime Minister Mark Carney’s government as an important factor in supporting Alberta’s continued place in Canada.
According to Smith, constructive engagement with the federal government has helped Canada function better than before.
Referring to the west coast pipeline, officially known as Pacific Link, and changes to federal legislation, she said these developments could help advance Alberta’s interests.
Meanwhile, separatist leader Jeffrey Rath had previously said that supporters of separation would need to remove Smith from the leadership if they wanted the referendum to move in their preferred direction. He also called for a special meeting to review the party’s leadership.
Court Case Also Under Discussion
A citizen-led petition seeking separation in Alberta was struck down by a court earlier this year. Justice Shauna Leonard ruled that election officials had made errors in the petition approval process and that Alberta’s separation could violate the treaty rights of First Nations.
The Alberta government and separatist leader Mitch Sylvester have appealed the decision. While the appeals process continues, the provincial government added its own question on separation to the referendum ballot in May.
The October 19 vote will not only gauge public opinion on Alberta’s future relationship with Canada but could also have implications for Smith’s political strategy and the disagreements within the governing party.
Smith has made clear that if a majority votes to remain part of Canada, there will be no second referendum on separation during her premiership. Separatist leaders, however, have indicated that they intend to continue their campaign.
