Alberta heads to polls to decide whether to hold vote on separation from Canada

People in the province of Alberta head to the polls on Monday to decide whether to hold a referendum at a later date on separating from Canada. The vote was called earlier this year by the leader of the province, Danielle Smith, after a grassroots group gathered about 300,000 signatures on a petition that asked for a binding referendum on separation. Many of those who support separation say the oil-rich province's economic growth has been stifled by the environmental policies of Canada's central government in Ottawa. But those who want Alberta to remain part of Canada - who include Prime Minister Mark Carney - have called for the country to show unity in the face of external pressures.