Meanwhile, in Canada...

[robkelk]

I guess Alberta voted Remain, in an entirely expected and predictable outcome.  Initial tallies are around 23.5% in favour of independence -- if that number had been over 50%, it would have been spelled in "favor" of independence (and becoming the 51st state).  If it holds up, 3 to 1 is a fairly embarrassing result.  In a room with four people, just the one weird guy wants to bail on Canada.  A result like that should sink the idea of secession for a generation.

But it won't, because the "leave" side was expecting to get less than 30%.

What's more worrying is the other referendum questions. The votes have been "yes" to fewer immigrants (don't know who's going to work in the bitumen sands, then), no education or health care for immigrants who don't yet have citizenship or newcomers from other parts of Canada who haven't been resident for 12 months, charging an extra fee for what services they do get, prove you're a citizen when voting, amend the Constitution (good luck with that!) to have the province appoint judges who hear federal cases, amend the Constitution to abolish the Senate, and amend the Constitution to have provincial laws override federal laws.

No health care for immigrants. I shouldn't be surprised, since Alberta charges its citizens for basic health care, specifically vaccinations.

At least the vote was "no" to opt out of federal programs but still have the federal government pay for their replacements.