Alberta Votes on Independence, Paving Way for Potential Exit from Canada
Alberta, Canada's oil-rich province, is poised to vote on whether to begin the process of leaving Canada. The non-binding referendum set for October 19 will ask voters if they want their government to start the legal process required for a future binding referendum on separation.
The question of Alberta's independence has been a long-standing issue in the province, with many feeling that Ottawa collects too much revenue from Alberta's vast oil and gas resources while imposing rules that make it harder to develop them.
US President Donald Trump has also been mentioned as a factor in Alberta's desire for independence. In his second term, Trump described Canada as a potential '51st state' and emphasized the importance of shared trade and resource relationships between the two countries.