Federal and provincial leaders thank Albertans for voting in referendum, Smith to address the province tonight

As results for the referendum trickle in, provincial and federal leadership thank Albertans for participating in the referendum and voting to remain in Canada.

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith expressed she was pleased to see Albertans vote to remain in Canada in the initial results from Elections Canada, via a late Monday night social media post.

“Thank you to all Albertans who took the time to vote on these critically important referendum questions,” she said.

Smith announced she will address Albertans live at 6:45 p.m. on Tuesday to speak on the results of all referendum questions that have their results available and where the province will be heading.

This was a clear message to Danielle Smith rather than Ottawa by Albertans, NDP Leader Naheed Nenshi said at a Monday evening event in Calgary.

Results indicated that approximately 75 per cent of Albertans voted in favour of remaining in Canada, meaning that three in four Albertans voted to “save the country we all love so much,” he said.

“We voted to stand up against these referendum questions that scapegoat immigrants,” Nenshi said. “We voted against scapegoating Ottawa, and we voted for more cooperation and we voted for a better Alberta.”

Albertans made a clear choice for unity, to build together and take care of each other, Prime Minister Mark Carney said in a statement on Tuesday.

Although votes continued to be tallied, the results on the question of separation mean that Albertans and Canadians will move together with purpose and ambition, he said.

Carney believes that Alberta will play a key role in Canada securing new global trade partners, nation building projects and unleashing the nation’s potential in being a global energy superpower.

“Canada is so much more than the sum of its parts,” Carney said. “Now it is our opportunity to take all that we have been given as Canadians . . . and make our country better for all of us.”

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