Blazingcatfur

In a province-wide address on Tuesday evening, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith vowed not to hold another referendum on the secession issue, while also urging separatist voters to “believe and hope in Canada again” following Monday’s referendum results.

In her first public remarks since referendum polls closed, the premier again sought to elevate the various deals and major projects her government has signed with Prime Minister Mark Carney in an effort to mend Alberta’s fractured relationship with Ottawa. Her comments came one day after Albertans voted with a decisive three-to-one margin to reject a proposal to hold a second legally-binding vote on whether to leave Confederation.

After what felt like an interminable campaign lasting five months, a quarter of Albertans rejected the status quo by selecting Option 2 on Question 10 in a referendum. Some chose with the intention of sending a message or warning to Ottawa. Others (like me) wanted to truly begin down the path to full provincial independence.

The results of Monday’s Alberta referendum question on separation from Canada won’t be official for more than a week, but all indications are that the separatist movement was handed a sound defeat.

As the earliest numbers showed about 76 per cent in favour of remaining in Confederation, a figure that hasn’t changed much as of 10 a.m. MT, separatist leader Jeffrey Rath expressed optimism about the political movement and re-emphasized the need to take control of the United Conservative Party of Alberta from Premier Danielle Smith, whom he said conspired with “fake news” and the “entire Canadian political establishment” to campaign against independence.