渥太华，10月15日 - 阿尔伯塔省将于周一举行一次不具约束力的公投，询问居民是否希望继续作为加拿大的一部分，这标志着这个石油资源丰富的省份首次将分离问题提交公众投票。民意调查一直显示，大多数阿尔伯塔人 — 约70% — 希望留在加拿大，大约四分之一的居民支持独立的阿尔伯塔。居民将被问及什么问题？
OTTAWA, Oct 15 - Alberta is holding a nonbinding referendum on Monday to ask residents if they want to remain part of Canada, marking the first time the oil-rich province has ever put the question of separation to the public. Polls have consistently shown most Albertans — about 70% — want to stay in Canada, with roughly a quarter of residents supporting an independent Alberta. WHAT WILL RESIDENTS BE ASKED?
共有10个问题，每个问题对应一种颜色编码的选票。选民看到的最后一张选票是第10个问题，即阿尔伯塔是否应继续作为加拿大省份，或启动举行具有约束力的分离公投所需的法律程序。若简单多数支持分离，可能触发该程序。还有其他九个不具约束力的问题，涉及移民、省级服务的获取 — 包括教育、社会护理和医疗保健 — 以及选民身份识别要求。阿尔伯塔为何举行此次公投？
There are 10 questions, each with its own color-coded ballot. The last ballot voters see is question 10, on whether Alberta should remain a Canadian province or start the legal process required to hold a binding referendum on separation. A simple majority in favor of separation could trigger that process. There are nine other nonbinding questions about immigration, access to provincial services — including education, social care and healthcare — and voter identification requirements. WHY IS ALBERTA HAVING THIS REFERENDUM?
阿尔伯塔省省长丹妮尔·史密斯在5月表示，是“进行投票、了解阿尔伯塔人在此问题上的意愿并继续前进”的时候，当时她宣布政府将增加一个关于分离的问题。史密斯的决定是在一个小而活跃的分离主义团体数月的宣传活动之后作出的，该团体认为阿尔伯塔的能源财富正在补贴国家较贫困地区，而渥太华的官僚主义正在扼杀该省的经济。
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith said in May it was “time to have a vote, understand the will of Albertans on this subject, and move on,” when she announced the government would add a question on separation. Smith’s decision followed months of campaigning by a small but vocal group of separatists, who argue Alberta’s energy wealth is subsidizing poorer parts of the country and that bureaucracy in Ottawa has stifled the province’s economy.
该团体的一些成员曾支持史密斯竞选省长。根据她在周三发布的社交媒体视频，史密斯表示她在提前投票时投了赞成阿尔伯塔留在加拿大的一票。加拿大以前是否举行过分离主义公投？
Some members of the group had backed Smith's candidacy for premier. Smith says she voted for Alberta to remain in Canada during advance polling, according to a video she posted on social media on Wednesday. HAVE THERE BEEN PREVIOUS SEPARATIST REFERENDUMS IN CANADA?
是的，但不在阿尔伯塔省。说法语为主的魁北克省曾在1980年和1995年举行过两次公投。魁北克人两次都投票选择留在加拿大，但1995年仅以微弱优势获胜。魁北克省政党魁北克党本月早些时候赢得了省级选举，并承诺将举行第三次公投，但仅在美国总统唐纳德·特朗普离职之后，且该党能够保持多数席位的前提下。魁北克党在10月5日的选举中获得少数政府，这意味着它需要依赖较小的政党来通过立法。
Yes, but not in Alberta. The majority French-speaking province of Quebec has had two referendums, in 1980 and 1995. Quebecers voted to remain in Canada both times, but by the slimmest of margins in 1995. The separatist Parti Quebecois won a provincial election earlier this month and has pledged to hold a third referendum, but only after US President Donald Trump has left office and if the party holds a majority. The PQ was elected with a minority government on October 5, meaning it will rely on smaller parties to pass legislation.
加拿大是由10个省和3个地区组成的联邦。虽然渥太华负责国家利益事务，如国防、贸易和外交政策，但各省和地区在医疗、教育和土地权利方面拥有相当大的自主权。何时会知道结果？
Canada is a federation of 10 provinces and three territories. While Ottawa is responsible for matters of national interest, such as defense, trade and foreign policy, the provinces and territories hold significant power over medical care, education and land rights. WHEN WILL THE RESULTS BE KNOWN?
投票站将在周一晚上8点关闭（周二凌晨0200格林威治标准时间）。阿尔伯塔选举局表示，它将手动计票，并且关于脱离的问题将首先被计算。
Polls are scheduled to close at 8 p.m. on Monday (0200 GMT on Tuesday). Elections Alberta says it will count ballots by hand and that the question on separation will be counted first.
它将在阿尔伯塔选举局网站上实时公布结果，预计非官方结果将在投票结束后48小时内公布。如果大多数阿尔伯塔人投票支持启动离开加拿大的进程会怎样？
It will publish results on the Elections Alberta website as they are received, and unofficial results are expected within 48 hours after voting ends. WHAT HAPPENS IF MOST ALBERTANS VOTE TO START THE PROCESS OF LEAVING CANADA?
史密斯表示，她将尊重投票结果，并迅速启动举行具有法律约束力的公投的进程。但脱离不会立即发生。在1995年魁北克公投之后，加拿大议会于2000年通过了《清晰法案》，该法案规定，只有在公众表达出明确多数意愿时，才能启动关于分离的谈判，但未具体说明所需的门槛。该法案还规定，省和地区没有单方面脱离加拿大的权利，而需要由省、地区和联邦政府协商通过的宪法修正案。
Smith has said she will respect the result and quickly begin the process to hold a legally binding referendum. But separation would not happen imminently. After the 1995 Quebec referendum, Canada's Parliament passed the Clarity Act in 2000, which says talks about secession can only be triggered if there is a clear majority from the public, without specifying the necessary threshold. The act also states provinces and territories have no unilateral right to leave Canada and that a constitutional amendment negotiated by provincial, territorial and federal governments is required.
原住民团体对独立阿尔伯塔的构想表示反对，因为他们与加拿大的土地条约早于阿尔伯塔加入联邦。五月份，阿尔伯塔省一名法院法官裁定，该省首席选举官员允许分离主义者收集请求举行公投的签名是错误的，因为这一过程本应促使与可能因分离而权利受到侵犯的原住民进行协商。阿尔伯塔省已对该决定提出上诉。总理马克·卡尼对公投有何表态？
First Nations groups have objected to the idea of an independent Alberta, as their land treaties with Canada predate Alberta's entry into Confederation. In May, an Alberta court judge ruled the province’s chief electoral officer was wrong to allow separatists to collect signatures requesting a referendum, because the process should have prompted a consultation with Indigenous peoples whose rights might be violated by separation. Alberta has appealed the decision. WHAT HAS PRIME MINISTER MARK CARNEY SAID ABOUT THE REFERENDUM?
卡尼主要在阿尔伯塔省长大，此前曾表示“阿尔伯塔最好的位置是在加拿大境内”，并称若国家分裂则无法成功。他在加拿大感恩节10月12日发布了一段视频，称在加拿大抵御来自国外的威胁（包括与美国的贸易战）时，国家团结至关重要。卡尼一直在为阿尔伯塔留在加拿大而开展竞选活动。
Carney, who was largely raised in Alberta, has previously said “the best place for Alberta is in Canada” and that the country cannot succeed if it's divided. He released a video on Canadian Thanksgiving, October 12, saying national unity is critical as Canada fights threats from abroad, including a trade war with the US. Carney has campaigned for Alberta to remain in Canada.