Canadian prime minister says Alberta ‘essential’ to country as separatists push for independence

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney stated that Alberta is essential to the country's future as separatists in the oil-rich province push toward a referendum on independence. A judge ruled an initiative to force a binding vote on secession invalid, though Alberta's premier is calling for a referendum on the matter. Separatists had spent months collecting signatures to trigger an October vote on seceding from Canada.