00:00In other news, supporters of independence in Alberta, Canada's oil-rich western province
00:05gathered in Edmonton, urging residents to support a future referendum on succession
00:11ahead of a vote scheduled for October 19.
00:14Geoffrey Roth, a prominent figure in the separatist movement, criticised Prime Minister Mark Kearney
00:21accusing his government of weakened Canada's relationship with the United States while
00:26moving closer to the European Union.
00:28Kearney has pushed back against the independence campaign, warning that the debate threatens
00:34national unity.
00:35According to Opinion Post, cited in the report, around 25% of Alberta's 5 million residents
00:41support separation from Canada.
00:43The October 19 vote will determine whether the provincial government is authorized to
00:48organise a legally binding independence referendum in the future.
00:52A previous citizens' initiative gathered enough signatures to pursue a vote, but a local
00:58court later struck it down on constitutional grounds.
01:02So, thank you.
