Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney urges Albertans to reject separation vote
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Prime Minister Mark Carney urged Albertans to vote against a referendum process on separation, warning that a pro-separation outcome could prolong uncertainty and stall progress in Alberta and across Canada.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney spoke at a rally in Edmonton on Friday, urging Albertans to think carefully about the timing of a vote that could launch a legal process toward a future referendum on separation. He said turnout would determine the result and warned that a vote against Canada could bring years of uncertainty and lost opportunities for both Albertans and Canadians.
Carney, who grew up in Alberta, appeared with provincial premier Danielle Smith in Red Deer, where she praised recent improvements in federal-provincial relations. Smith said Carney had addressed several federal policies that had previously created tension, including the carbon tax.
The upcoming vote will not directly decide independence; instead, Albertans will choose whether to remain a province or to instruct the government to begin the legal steps for a future referendum. Carney emphasized the province’s role as a major oil-producing region and said reducing economic dependence on the United States was a priority.
Opposition to the referendum also came from federal Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre, who urged Albertans to stay united with the rest of Canada. While Carney and Smith agree on keeping Alberta within Canada, they remain split on nine other ballot questions related to immigration and provincial powers.
Some Albertans expressed frustration with the vote, citing low levels of support for separation in recent polls. Independence advocate Tanya Clemens dismissed recent agreements between Carney and Smith as insufficient, describing them as conditional promises.