Voters in Alberta are due to decide on Monday whether the Canadian province should hold a binding referendum on separation at a later date.
Premier Danielle Smith called the vote after a grassroots group gathered about 300,000 signatures seeking a separation referendum. Smith opposes separation but says residents should have a say. She has said a referendum could take place as soon as 2027 if voters back moving ahead.
Supporters of separation argue that federal environmental policies have held back growth in the oil-rich province. Prime Minister Mark Carney is among those urging Alberta to remain in Canada. Polling suggests most Albertans favour staying, while an anti-separation petition drew more than 400,000 signatures.
The process has drawn objections from First Nations groups. A court blocked the pro-separation petition because it had not consulted First Nations whose land could be affected, but Smith allowed the vote to proceed. The debate has proved divisive even before a decision on whether to hold a referendum.
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