Unofficial results show 91 per cent support for staying in Canada in Jasper, while West Yellowhead riding-wide support sits just below 60 per cent
Jasper voters overwhelmingly favoured remaining in Canada in Monday’s Alberta referendum.
Unofficial results show a much higher level of support for the status quo in the mountain community than across the West Yellowhead riding.
As of the morning of October 20, Option 1 — Alberta should remain a province of Canada — had received 13,349 votes, or 59.9 per cent of the 22,273 ballots recorded in West Yellowhead on Question 10. Option 2, which would have the provincial government begin the legal process toward a future binding referendum on separation, received 8,924 votes, or 40.1 per cent.
In Jasper, the margin was considerably wider.
Combining the three voting-area entries for the École Jasper polling station (Jasper Elementary School) with the advance poll at Royal Canadian Legion Branch 31, 1,588 ballots favoured remaining in Canada, compared with 149 supporting the process toward a future separation referendum.
That represents 91.4 per cent for Option 1 and 8.6 per cent for Option 2 among the 1,737 ballots recorded in those locations.
Jasper voters made extensive use of advance voting, with 1,156 ballots cast at the advance poll at Royal Canadian Legion Branch 31, compared with 581 ballots at the Jasper Elementary School voting station on October 19.
In the West Yellowhead riding, 2,497 mail-in ballots were cast, with 2,174 (87 percent) in favour of remaining in Canada.
Janet Frechette, a Jasperite who volunteered with the Forever Canada campaign, said she was delighted with the broader result.
“I feel ecstatic with the 75% and relief to have this behind us now,” Frechette said.
Pam Wilson said she’s proud and thankful for the hard work of her fellow volunteers.
“For now we can move forward and be shoulder to shoulder with the rest of Canada to face the continuing challenges ahead,” Wilson said.
Across Alberta, preliminary results on Tuesday showed approximately three-quarters of voters favoured remaining in Canada, rejecting the proposal to begin the process toward a separate, binding referendum on independence.
Question 10 was not a direct vote on whether Alberta should become independent. Instead, voters were asked whether the province should remain part of Canada or whether the government should commence the legal process required under the Canadian Constitution to hold a future binding referendum on separation. The October 19 referendum results are non-binding, and official results are scheduled to be announced by Elections Alberta on October 29.
West Yellowhead’s riding-wide figures reflect a substantially closer division than the provincewide result, although Jasper voters were much more decisive in their preference to remain in Canada.
The figures remain unofficial and reflect the voting-area and advance-poll results recorded in the spreadsheet as of the morning of October 20. Final totals may change as outstanding results are reported and verified.
Bob Covey // bob@thejasperlocal.com
