Alberta's secession vote: What's really at stake in Canada's referendum

Alberta, Canada's wealthiest province, votes Monday on whether to begin a legal process toward secession, a move with major geopolitical implications beyond mere internal Canadian politics. The referendum asks if Alberta's government should start the constitutional procedure for a binding independence vote. The province holds valuable oil reserves and the highest GDP, while its conservative population clashes with Ottawa, and both the US and Russia are actively engaging in the debate. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney faces this separatist movement amid growing Canada-EU ties, with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen proposing Canada as the first "associate member" in September, highlighting the high stakes of the vote.