Mark Carney warns Alberta separation is a "dangerous bluff"

Alberta voters overwhelmingly rejected separation in the province’s first referendum on the question, a nonbinding vote, with 76% choosing to remain in Canada and 24% backing a binding separation vote when about three-quarters of ballots were counted Tuesday. The result gave Prime Minister Mark Carney a win as he seeks national cohesion during a trade dispute with Washington. Before the vote, Carney spoke at a Calgary rally against secession. Premier Danielle Smith, who announced the referendum in May, said she was pleased with early results and planned a Tuesday evening address. A small separatist contingent argued Alberta’s energy wealth subsidizes other provinces and that the province would benefit from leaving Ottawa’s oversight. The result is unlikely to end the movement; some leaders had said they would pursue another vote regardless. Carney has faced a separatist win in Quebec this month.