Carney expects foreign governments, including the U.S., to stay out of Alberta vote

Prime Minister Mark Carney said Canada has made clear to foreign governments, including the United States, that they should stay out of Alberta’s vote. Speaking to Global News in Calgary on Thursday morning, he called election integrity fundamental at every level of government. The Oct. 19 vote will determine whether Alberta begins the legal process to hold a binding referendum on separating from Canada.

Carney said Canada does not get involved in other countries’ elections and expects them not to get involved in Canada’s. He said the fundamental way to prevent foreign interference is for people to vote and make Albertans’ voices heard.

The issue has dominated Alberta politics for more than a year, amid concerns that foreign actors are backing the separatist cause. Leading figures in the movement have said they travelled to the U.S. to seek help from the State Department. U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has openly described Alberta as a “natural partner” for the United States. U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnik has accused Carney of ending trade talks to gain “leverage” over the separatist movement.

Carney said Canada’s national security agencies are actively monitoring potential covert foreign interference in the referendum, but he could not discuss specifics. He said the agencies are actively involved, while noting that rules limit what he can say.

Ahead of the vote, Carney visited Alberta and appealed directly to residents to reject a formal separation referendum. He pointed to recent federal project announcements in the province, including a new pipeline, the Pacific Link, to the B.C. coast, and urged Alberta to move forward within Canada.

Carney also cited the aftermath of the Brexit referendum, which took place while he was governor of the Bank of England. He said voters did not know what Brexit would mean at the time, and that the uncertainty over the following years halted investment and left the economy underperforming. Carney said the U.K. economy is now at least 10 per cent lower than it otherwise would have been, with people giving up thousands of dollars in earnings and the government facing higher taxes and debt.

He said Alberta has an opportunity to “boldly move forward” as part of Canada. Carney said the world is opening up to Canada and the province can benefit from that, while the alternative he does not recommend would bring uncertainty, slower economic growth, higher debt, higher taxes and missed opportunities.