Unofficial count signals Albertans desire to remain in Canada

Voters in Canada's oil-rich Alberta province overwhelmingly rejects

separating from Canada, with early referendum results Tuesday delivering

a boost to Prime Minister Mark Carney's push for national unity amid

US President Donald Trump's trade war and annexation threats.

With more than 1.5 million votes counted in a referendum that would

set into motion a move towards Alberta's separation from Canada,

76% supported remaining in the nation, according to unofficial

results from Elections Alberta.

Close close to 24% backed the nonbinding vote that

would have set Alberta on a path toward a

future vote on separation from Canada.

"Albertans made a clear choice," said Prime Minister Mark Carney.

"They chose unity, to build together, and to take care of each other.

Above all, Albertans chose Canada."

Carney said the result would allow Canadians to move forward together

and accelerate efforts to diversify trade, develop major infrastructure projects

and make Canada a global energy powerhouse, with Alberta at its centre.

Still, some Albertan separatists are still holding out hope.

Alberta, home to the world's fourth-largest proven oil reserves,

is cowboy country and a conservative stronghold whose political

culture has long had more in common with the American West than

much of Canada. Resentment toward Canada's federal government in

Ottawa runs deep, but hasn't traditionally translated into widespread

support for independence.