Voters reject separation of Alberta from Canada in referendum

With more than one million votes counted, about 76 percent supported remaining in Canada.

The vote was not a referendum on independence from Canada, but it would have begun a process towards possible separation.

Around 77% of voters backed remaining in Canada, and 23% voted for starting the process of separation, according to early results.

Alberta held a nonbinding referendum on October 19, on whether the oil-rich Canadian province should secede from Canada, amid growing frustration over economic issues. Polls indicated that most voters opposed independence, with an Angus Reid survey finding 66% planned to remain part of Canada.