The Government of Alberta has officially confirmed the wording and structure of a referendum question related to provincial separation, setting the vote for October 19.

The decision was made through an order in council issued by Premier Danielle Smith’s cabinet, formalizing both the date and the exact phrasing that voters will see on the ballot.

The referendum question will present Albertans with two options: the first is to affirm that Alberta should remain a province of Canada, while the second supports initiating a legal process under the Canadian Constitution to hold a binding provincial referendum on whether Alberta should separate from Canada.

Although the question includes the possibility of beginning a separation process, the government has emphasized that the October vote itself will not be binding.

Premier Smith has stated that she will respect the outcome and considers a simple majority of 50 per cent plus one as the threshold for interpreting results.

The referendum is one of ten questions scheduled for the same day, with the remaining nine focusing on immigration policy and constitutional matters introduced earlier in the year.Elections officials have outlined significant logistical challenges associated with the vote.

Millions of paper ballots will need to be printed, and tens of thousands of election workers may be required to manage and count results within a 48-hour timeframe, as mandated by provincial law.Each of the ten referendum questions will appear on separate colour-coded ballots, and voters may choose to mark or leave any question blank.

The proposal has generated political debate and concern across Canada, with some provincial leaders and stakeholders questioning its implications for national unity and economic stability.Prime Minister Mark Carney has indicated that the federal Clarity Act would not apply, since the vote is non-binding.The referendum adds to ongoing discussions in Alberta about its relationship with the federal government and broader constitutional issues.