France, Oct. 20 -- Public broadcaster CBC and leading private network CTV projected a comfortable victory for the federalist side, with official results showing more than 76 percent support for national unity with more than a third of ballots counted.

"They chose unity, to build together, and to take care of each other," Prime Minister Mark Carney said in a statement on social media platform X.

Carney had campaigned for national stability as the country faced Trump's trade war and annexation threats.

A sombre mood took over the restaurant in the provincial capital Edmonton where a leading separatist group watched the returns.

Jeffrey Rath, a top leader of the separatist Alberta Prosperity Project, told reporters his push for an indepe...