Canadian Mark Carney makes final appeal against Alberta separation ahead of referendum

EDMONTON, Alberta — Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney made a final appeal Friday to voters considering a path to independence in his home province of Alberta, warning that a referendum is a dangerous gamble at a time of growing threats to Canada’s sovereignty.

With U.S. President Donald Trump waging a trade war and threatening to make Canada the 51st state, Carney warned the referendum comes at the “worst possible time” and urged Albertans not to take the result for granted.

“Don’t let anyone tell you it’s already decided. Turnout will determine the outcome,” Carney said at a pro-Canada rally in Edmonton, where he grew up.

“It’s not a game. It’s not poker. A vote against Canada is a dangerous bluff that will lead to years of deep uncertainty and lost opportunities for Albertans and Canadians,” he said.

Monday’s vote is not a direct referendum on independence. Alberta, home to most of Canada’s proven oil reserves – the fourth largest in the world – will decide whether it will remain a province or ask the government to begin the legal process for a future referendum on separation.

Carney’s final appeal comes after two days of campaigning against separation in the province. Earlier Friday, the Liberal prime minister joined Conservative Alberta Premier Danielle Smith in showing unity against independence.

Smith praised Carney for improving relations with a province that frequently clashed with his predecessor, Justin Trudeau, over his carbon tax and other energy policies.

“I think what we can agree on is that we’ve seen some real change over the last 18 months,” Smith said alongside Carney in Red Deer, Alta.

Smith noted that Carney grew up in Alberta and remains an Edmonton Oilers fan.

“He can’t be all bad, can he?” she joked.

Trump’s threats raise the stakes

“Some outside our borders are working to break us so they can possess us. Never. Never,” Carney warned Friday in Edmonton, repeating a warning he issued the day before in Calgary.

At rallies Thursday in Calgary and Friday in Edmonton, the crowds erupted into their loudest applause when Carney spoke about reducing Canada’s economic dependence on the United States.

Carney acknowledged Alberta’s long-standing resentment of federal energy policies.

“Growing up, I remember how Ottawa made Albertans feel like our resources weren’t ours,” he said.

But he also highlighted his deep ties to the province.

“Alberta is my home. I grew up here. This city, this province, this country gave me everything: my family, my education, my values,” he said.

Some Albertans say vote should not have been called

Outside the Edmonton rally site on Friday, supporters of Alberta independence waved flags and held a sign reading “Say No to Carney’s New World Order.” »

Smith called the referendum despite being opposed to independence herself. She recently cited a poll showing 22 per cent of Albertans favored separation, a number she said was still too high.

Smith also faces pressure from separatists within the ruling United Conservative Party. Former Prime Minister Jason Kenney said the independence movement gained influence within the party as activists angry over COVID-19 restrictions, some influenced by conspiracy theories, embraced separatism.

But some Albertans who want to stay in Canada are angry at Smith for calling for the vote.

“I think it’s really a travesty to put this on our province and our country when such a small portion of the population is agitating and saying they want to secede from Canada,” said Deb Lee, a retired Calgary resident who voted in advance to stay in Canada.

Smith said Carney substantially addressed seven of the nine federal laws Alberta opposed. She also cited cooperation on an oil pipeline project.

Independence advocate Tanya Clemens dismissed the deals between Carney and Smith as “basically pinky promises” with too many strings attached.

Political leaders unite against separation

Carney’s main political rival, federal Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, also urged Albertans on Friday to stay in Canada.

“Don’t leave your fellow citizens behind. Shake their hands,” Poilievre said.

Despite agreeing to keep Alberta in Canada, Carney and Smith remain divided on nine other issues in Monday’s vote regarding immigration and provincial powers. Smith wants voters to approve them, while Carney has insisted on rejecting them.

“For the first time in a long time, Alberta and Canada are walking together,” Smith said.