Alberta separation referendum
The gist
Albertans vote Oct. 19 on whether to hold a future binding separation referendum.
The result decides how far Alberta's push to leave Canada goes next.
How it unfolded
- 1980The federal National Energy Program keeps domestic oil prices below world levels, fuelling widespread alienation in Alberta, which views it as a federal money grab.
- 1982Separatism has a brief heyday: Gordon Kesler of the Western Canada Concept Party wins a provincial byelection in central Alberta, then loses his legislature seat later that year; the party takes 12 per cent of the vote but no seats.
- 2019The anti-Ottawa mood ramps up as Jason Kenney's United Conservative Party wins power, capitalizing on discontent over federal rules seen as impairing Alberta's oil and gas wealth; Kenney still advocates staying in Confederation.