France, Oct. 19 -- Alberta is putting its relationship with the rest of Canada under the spotlight - with a vote that could either bolster the independence movement or give supporters of national unity a decisive boost.

More than 1.35 million people, representing 43 percent of eligible voters, cast advance or special ballots before Monday's consultation. That comfortably exceeds the 810,000 who voted early in the 2023 provincial election.

Opinion polls put support for independence at roughly a quarter of Albertans. But Carney, who grew up in Edmonton, has urged voters to turn out rather than assume the result is settled.

"Canada is worth fighting for. And that means turning up and voting. Polls don't vote - people do," he said while ca...