Carney urges Albertans to vote as if Canada’s future depends on it

Prime Minister Mark Carney told thousands at a Forever Canadian rally in Calgary on Thursday night that Albertans should vote to keep the province in Canada. He warned that failing to do so would bring “deep division and great uncertainty.” The Prime Minister’s Office estimated at least 5,000 people attended. Many wore red and white or Team Canada jerseys and held hockey sticks bearing Canadian flags.

The Forever Canadian campaign, launched by former Alberta deputy premier Thomas Lukaszuk, encourages Albertans to vote to stay in Canada. Monday’s referendum asks whether the province should remain in Confederation or proceed to a second, binding referendum on separation. Carney said the world has become more dangerous and divided, and that some people outside Canada are working to “break us so they can own us.” He called the vote ill-timed and said the stakes are high.

Carney said Albertans can build a stronger Alberta and an even greater Canada to leave to their children, or burden them with years of deep division and great uncertainty. He called for a decisive result on Monday to settle the question. He said Alberta’s frustrations are real, but Canada is working in a spirit of co-operative federalism. A vote against Canada, he said, would be a dangerous bluff that could lead to years of lost opportunities. He urged voters not to assume the outcome was already decided, saying turnout will determine it.

Carney is scheduled to attend another Forever Canadian rally in Edmonton on Friday and meet business leaders alongside Premier Danielle Smith in Red Deer. Federal Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre is set to speak in support of Canadian unity at a Canada Strong and Free Network conference in Calgary on Friday. Smith is also expected to address the event. Earlier Thursday, Carney was surrounded by people seeking selfies at several Calgary stops. At one event, he urged Albertans not only to vote for Confederation but also to reject the nine other questions on the ballot concerning immigration and the Constitution.

Smith has said she needs “yes” votes on those nine questions to send Ottawa a message that provinces need more autonomy and respect. They focus on giving Alberta more power over immigration, while imposing restrictions—and possibly fees—on some newcomers and temporary workers seeking health care, education and other social services. Smith says immigration costs are prohibitively expensive; critics have called the questions an anti-immigrant dog whistle.

The nine questions also ask voters to endorse the Alberta government working with other provinces to amend the Constitution, wrest power from Ottawa and abolish the Senate. Smith’s government committed $4 million to an advertising campaign urging voters to support the nine questions and “a strong and sovereign Alberta within a united Canada.” The Prime Minister’s Office said it is spending about $250,000 on its “O Canada” ad campaign. While Carney was scheduled to attend the Calgary rally, Smith was set to headline a United Conservative Party fundraiser in the city with tickets at $500 per plate.