Alberta's referendum campaign has entered its final days, and the national spotlight is moving with it. CBC News says The National will broadcast from Red Deer on October 14 and Edmonton on October 15, with further special programming from Alberta communities ahead of the October 19 vote.
The ballot is not a direct vote on independence. Voters are being asked whether Alberta should stay a province of Canada or whether the provincial government should begin the constitutional process that could lead to a later, binding separation referendum.
Premier Danielle Smith, who supports the remain option, has said she would not hold another separation referendum if remain wins while she is premier. Recent Leger polling of 1,001 Albertans, conducted October 2 to 4, put remain at 70 per cent, with 22 per cent favouring starting the separation process and the rest undecided.
Turnout expectations have also risen in the polling, and advance voting is already under way. What happens on October 19 will shape Alberta's relationship with Ottawa either way — decisively, if the margin is wide, or contentiously, if it is close.
