On Monday, October 19, 2026, Albertans will vote in a provincial referendum on 10 questions.The first nine address immigration, provincially funded programs, provincial voting requirements and the Canadian Constitution. The tenth question asks whether Alberta should remain a province of Canada or whether the Government of Alberta should commence the legal process required under the Canadian Constitution to hold a binding referendum on whether Alberta should separate from Canada.
The Calgary Chamber of Commerce is committed to ensuring our members and the broader community have access to clear information about issues that affect Alberta’s business and economic environment. This explainer provides an overview of what a referendum is, how the process works in Alberta and what Albertans can expect before and after the October 19 vote.
What is a referendum
A referendum is the term given to a direct, usually “yes” or “no” vote to a question. Referendums are used by governments to consult voters on specific issues. This differs from a general election, where voters select representatives who will make decisions on their behalf through the legislative process.
In Alberta, referendums can be regarding constitutional (relating to the Constitution of Canada) or non-constitutional (other matters of public interest or concern) questions. Alberta has held two previous referendums: the Constitutional Referendum on Equalization and on Daylight Saving Time, both held-on October 18, 2021.
Governments may decide whether referendums are binding or non-binding under certain conditions, which indicates whether the government is obligated to act on the results provided by the electorate. Questions one through five and question 10 are on non-binding, giving the Government of Alberta discretion on how they proceed after the result.
However, questions six through nine are binding because in Alberta, any questions regarding the Canadian Constitution are automatically binding. This means, if a majority votes in favour of a question, the result is binding on the Alberta Legislature. However, the Legislature would still have to pursue the actual constitutional amendment process required under Canada’s Constitution with the federal government and other provinces. Of note, the government is not required to implement a result if doing so would contravene Canada’s Constitution.
Questions one through five were established through Orders in Council 109/2026 and six through nine through Orders in Council 110/2026, while question 10 was established through Order in Council 160/2026.
Important considerations of referendums
Referendums are one way democratic systems can give voters a more direct role in decisions on significant public issues. They can provide an opportunity for citizens to express their views on an issue that may not have been the focus of a general election and can provide governments with an indication of public opinion on a specific matter.
At the same time, referendums present challenges. Public policy questions are often complex and can involve significant economic, social, legal and constitutional considerations. A referendum requires those issues to be presented in a form that can be answered through a vote, often by selecting “yes” or “no” and choosing between two options. The wording of a referendum question can therefore be very important. The way an issue is framed can affect how voters understand the question and, ultimately, how they respond to it.
This does not make a referendum inherently good or bad. Rather, it highlights the importance of understanding what is being asked, what a particular vote would mean and what could happen next.
Why is Alberta’s October 19 referendum significant?
The October referendum is significant because it includes 10 separate questions covering a range of policy and constitutional issues, all of which could have important consequences, from the future of immigration policy in the province, to Alberta’s place within Canada.
Each question will be on a separate colour-coded and numbered ballot. Voters will receive their ballots in the order set out on Elections Alberta’s website. Voters will be given all ballots at the same time, in an ordered stack. Once they have filled in their ballots, voters will deposit them into separate, colour-coded ballot boxes assigned to each question.
Questions one through five address immigration-related issues, including eligibility for provincially funded programs, residency requirements for certain social supports, fees or premiums for health care and education and proof of citizenship for provincial election voting.
Questions six through nine ask Albertans whether the Government of Alberta should work with other willing provinces to pursue amendments to the Canadian Constitution relating to the appointment of provincial court justices, the federal Senate, the option to opt out of federal programs and increased provincial autonomy.
Question 10 asks Albertans to choose between two options: (1) remaining a province of Canada, or (2) commencing the legal process required to hold a future binding referendum on whether Alberta should separate from Canada.
With 10 questions covering issues of different complexity and significance, understanding the distinction between the questions and their potential outcomes will be important for voters.
What happens after the vote?
The Referendum (General) Regulation requires the unofficial ballot count to be completed within the following timelines:
- 12 hours after close of voting if there are 1 or 2 questions,
- 24 hours after close of voting if there are 3 or 4 questions,
- 36 hours after close of voting if there are 5 or 6 questions, and
- 48 hours after close of voting if there are 7 or more questions.
Elections Alberta will count the ballots by hand, with Question 10 counted first, followed by the remaining questions in order. Question 10 will be counted first because the Referendum (General) Regulation requires questions arising from a successful citizen initiative petition to be counted before other referendum questions.
Results will be published on Elections Alberta’s Results website as the final ballots are received from each electoral division.
Since questions one to five and 10 are non-binding, the results will provide the Government of Alberta with the expressed views of Albertans, but do not themselves create a legal requirement to implement the results.
For referendum questions proposing changes to legislation, policy or the Constitution, the Alberta Government would need to take further legislative, legal or constitutional steps, depending on the question. For Question 10, a vote in favour would not mean Alberta had voted to leave Canada. It would express support for the Government of Alberta beginning the legal process toward a future binding referendum on separation. That process would involve additional legal and constitutional steps before such a referendum could take place.
Conclusion — What Albertans should consider
Albertans should consider each referendum question on its own merits. While separation may receive significant attention, it is only one of several issues that could be put to voters, each with different legal, policy and economic implications. The questions are not interchangeable, and the consequences of any result will depend on both the wording of the question and the processes that follow.
For that reason, understanding the question, the referendum process and what a vote does, and does not, mean is an important part of participating in the democratic process. Albertans should consider the available information, weigh different perspectives and make their own decision at the ballot box. For more on Alberta’s referendum, please read our explainer How to vote and employer obligations.
ABOUT THE CALGARY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
The Calgary Chamber exists to empower our business community to advance a prosperous Calgary and Canada. As the convenor and catalyst for a vibrant, inclusive and prosperous business community, the Chamber works to build strength and resilience among its members and position Calgary as a magnet for talent, diversification and opportunity. As an independent, non-profit, non-partisan organization founded in 1891, we build on our history to serve and advocate for businesses of all sizes, in all sectors across the city.
