Carney Says 50 Percent Plus One Referendum Vote Not Enough for Separation

The prime minister says Parliament won’t weigh in on Alberta’s referendum
Carney Says 50 Percent Plus One Referendum Vote Not Enough for Separation
Prime Minister Mark Carney rises during Question Period in the House of Commons on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on May 26, 2026. The Canadian Press/Justin Tang
|Updated:
0:00

Prime Minister Mark Carney says a vote of 50 percent plus one on a referendum to separate wouldn’t represent a “clear majority” under the Clarity Act, a definition that would obligate the federal government to enter into separation negotiations.

Carney’s said that 50 percent plus one is not sufficient under federal law and does not take into account the proper “scope” of a majority or the amount of eligible voters who took part in a referendum.