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A motorist passes by an Alberta government sponsored digital billboard on the QEII highway near Airdrie, Alta., Friday, Sept. 11, 2026. The Alberta government has launched an ad campaign for the Oct. 19 referendum. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntoshJeff McIntosh/The Canadian Press

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Albertans will head to the polls in just over a month, on Oct. 19, to vote in a referendum. There are 10 questions, but the one that’s garnering the most attention is the question about separation: do they want to remain in Canada, or hold another referendum on whether to separate? Polling suggests 70 to 75 per cent of Albertans want to stay in Canada, but the federalists are having trouble raising enough money to get the message out.

We’re talking to Marieke Walsh, a senior political reporter for The Globe, and Matthew Scace, a Globe reporter based in Calgary. They’ll break down why the ‘Remain’ side, which has an overwhelming amount of public support, is struggling to translate that into campaign contributions, and what a disorganized campaign could mean for the outcome of the referendum.

Questions? Comments? Ideas? Email us at thedecibel@globeandmail.com

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