CALGARY—Prime Minister Mark Carney emphasized the importance of Alberta’s contributions to Canada and the interconnectedness between the provinces during a rally in Calgary on Oct. 15.
Speaking before a crowd of thousands with many waving Canadian flags, Carney said that Alberta’s upcoming referendum “comes at the worst possible time” and said he hopes voters reject separation as an option at the polls.
“The world has become more dangerous and divided. There are some outside our borders who are working to break us, so they can win,” Carney said. “We know that when we are united, we become even stronger, even fairer, even freer.”
Carney, who was raised in Edmonton, listed some of Alberta’s contributions to Canada and the world including in energy, agriculture, military service, and former Premier Peter Lougheed’s role in shaping Canada’s constitution.
“I’m proud of how Alberta has shaped Canada,” Carney said, adding “Canada is building big again, and Alberta is at the very heart of it.”
Carney said that while “the frustrations that many Albertans have felt are real,” they can be solved in a more united Canada, emphasizing progress on major projects in Alberta, including the proposed Alberta-B.C. oil pipeline Pacific Link , which he said would create more than 140,000 jobs.
“It will reduce our dependence on the United States,” he said as the audience broke into sustained cheers. “Careful, careful. They might think that’s election interference,” Carney joked in reference to the upcoming U.S. midterm elections, drawing laughter from the crowd. U.S. Ambassador to Canada Pete Hoekstra has warned Canadian leaders against interfering in the U.S. elections, saying some of the comments Canadian cabinet ministers have made about applying political pressure on U.S. decision-makers with counter-tariffs could amount to interference.
Carney thanked the organizers of the event, former Alberta Deputy Premier Thomas Lukaszuk and Calgary Mayor Jeromy Farkas, both of whom spoke before him and rallied the crowd around a pro-Canada message.
Carney also encouraged voters to show up at the polls.
“Don’t let anyone tell you that this is already decided. Turnout will determine the outcome,” he said, adding that a vote against staying in Canada is also a “dangerous bluff.”
Rally attendee Rodrigo Magana said he moved to Canada over a decade ago from El Salvador and is alarmed by the separatist sentiment in Alberta.
“I don’t like this separatist rhetoric and how we are dividing the population,” he told The Epoch Times.
Fellow rally attendee Donald MacKimmie said he supports Alberta’s governing United Conservative Party and fully understands the grievances many Albertans feel towards Ottawa, but said separation is not the answer.
“Alberta has not been able over the past 10 years to do what it has rights to do under our constitution, but you know Trudeau wouldn’t allow that. He tried to put us out of business, showed us no respect,” MacKimmie said, though adding that he believes things are now turning a corner for the better under Carney.
Alberta’s referendum will be held Oct. 19, with advance voting running from Oct. 13 to 17.
The non-binding referendum asks Albertans to choose between remaining in Canada or beginning the process to hold a referendum to separate from Canada, in addition to nine other questions giving Alberta more provincial authority over immigration, the judiciary and public benefits, among other matters.
Elections Alberta says referendum results will be released 48 hours after the closure of polls on Oct. 19, with official results out Oct. 29.
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