Danielle Smith calls UCP a federalist party after Alberta rejects separation

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith told reporters Wednesday that she has accepted the result of Monday’s referendum and expects United Conservative Party members to do the same. If members can accept the result and the mandate Albertans gave them through a free and democratic process, she said, the party can reset. Those who cannot accept it have opportunities through other political parties.

The referendum’s separatism result echoed more than six months of polling that had consistently found about 70 per cent of Albertans wanted the province to remain in Canada. Unofficial results showed voters rejected moving toward separation by roughly 75 per cent. Smith said the debate had been years in the making, as Albertans have worked to address long-standing and legitimate grievances with Ottawa.

In an address Tuesday, Smith said the question of independence had been put to bed and called for unity and moving forward. Organized separatists within the UCP are nevertheless continuing to challenge her leadership. Jeffrey Rath, a central figure in the separatist movement who helped bring about former premier Jason Kenney’s ouster, told Global News he would push for a special general meeting to remove Smith as party leader.

Smith said Wednesday that the UCP has been a “federalist party” since its founding and is committed to loyalty to Canada while working for constitutional sovereignty within that framework. She said support for citizen-initiated referendums is consistent with the party’s principles, but members must accept the outcomes. In her view, democracy means respecting what Albertans have said when they give a clear answer. She asked people who hold formal positions representing the party to do the same.

Smith also released a video on X aimed at UCP members, urging unity ahead of next year’s provincial election. In a post accompanying the video, she said the party would win if united, while division would let the NDP win and cause all Albertans to suffer. “The time for division is over,” she wrote. “The time to unite and fight for a stronger Alberta and Canada is now.”

The referendum included nine other questions. Unofficial data showed the “yes” side leading on eight, including all five immigration questions. Four questions concerned potential constitutional changes. Voters were asked whether Alberta should have more say over who comes to the province to work, and whether more limits — or even fees — should be placed on some people seeking access to health care and education. The constitutional questions asked whether Alberta should pursue negotiations with other governments to gain control from Ottawa and abolish the Senate. Smith said Albertans want these issues addressed and the government would work on them over the coming months and years. She said nothing was imminent during the fall session, but the government would have more to say in the spring session.

Prime Minister Mark Carney said he favours pragmatic “common solutions” with provinces on matters under federal jurisdiction. As he welcomed the rejection of separation, he said constitutional change can be difficult and drawn out. Conservative Opposition Leader Pierre Poilievre said Tuesday that the Liberals had allowed immigration to run “totally out of control” and that he supports provinces setting their own levels. Carney said disputes in areas such as immigration can be resolved without constitutional amendments, adding that his government has moved to bring immigration back under control.