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Prime Minister Mark Carney brought a pro-Canada message to Alberta on Thursday as part of a barnstorming tour through the wild rose province ahead of Monday’s referendum on separation.<\/p>\n
While greeting supporters across Calgary, Carney urged Albertans to not only vote to stay a part of Canada but also reject the nine other questions on the ballot,<\/a> which touch on limiting immigration and constitutional reform.<\/p>\n The prime minister is scheduled to join former Alberta deputy premier Thomas Lukaszuk at a rally for his Forever Canadian group on Thursday evening. He’s also expected to attend a pro-remain\u00a0event with Alberta Premier Danielle Smith in Red Deer\u00a0on Friday ahead of another Forever Canadian rally in his hometown of Edmonton that evening.<\/p>\n “Polls don’t vote. People do,” he told a crowd at the Cinnamon restaurant in Calgary on Thursday morning.<\/p>\n WATCH | Carney rallies ‘no’ side supporters in Calgary: Carney rallies ‘no’ side supporters in Calgary ahead of Alberta referendum<\/p>\n ‘There couldn’t be a worse time for a referendum,’ Prime Minister Mark Carney told a crowd of union workers in Calgary on Thursday. Carney’s message ahead of Monday’s vote on a future separation question is that in a dangerous and divided world, ‘it’s time for us to come together’ and ‘stand up for Alberta.’<\/p>\n “For those who are undecided, it’s hard to think of a worse time for a referendum or a better time for the province. The world is dangerously divided.” <\/p>\n The critical Oct. 19 vote follows decades of Western grievances and a sense of alienation. It was brought forward by separatists after Smith lowered the threshold needed to prompt a referendum.\u00a0<\/p>\n The ballot includes 10 questions addressing immigration and constitutional issues along with the key question of whether the province should stay in Canada or hold another, binding referendum on separating.\u00a0<\/p>\n Carney greets students during a visit to the University of Calgary on Thursday. (Ahmed Zakot\/Reuters)<\/p>\n While meeting pro-unity organizers, Carney encouraged people to vote both to stay in Canada and “no to the nine,”<\/a> repeating the slogan of the movement against the nine other provincial referendum questions.<\/p>\n Those questions include whether migrants’ access to social programs should be limited and whether the province should work to abolish the Senate.<\/p>\n Asked for clarification on his stance, a spokesperson for the prime minister said the federal government works with Alberta on priorities and areas of concern “through established processes \u2014 without needing to have a referendum that divides us at a time when we need to be strong, and we are stronger together.”<\/p>\n In the months leading up to the vote, Carney has made an effort to underline the Liberals’ changed approach to energy projects including the proposed new pipeline to the West Coast<\/a>. <\/p>\n Carney was largely greeted by fans and supporters during his stops in Calgary, some donning red and white or waving Canadian flags.<\/p>\n One woman told Carney she wore red for him.<\/p>\n It’s for us. It’s all for Canada,” replied Carney.<\/p>\n He was later mobbed by students at the University of Calgary, including one who asked the prime minister to sign his chest (he declined).<\/p>\n The government’s 11th-hour effort also includes a new video that uses archetypal images \u2014 from outdoor hockey to rolling mountains to a hospital gurney \u2014 as the national anthem is read aloud to pitch that a “united Canada is a stronger Canada.” <\/p>\n The campaign, running both on television and online ahead of Monday’s vote, will cost an estimated $250,000, according to the Privy Council Office.\u00a0<\/p>\n Poilievre speaking in Calgary Friday <\/p>\n While the two aren’t scheduled to appear together, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre is also bringing a pro-unity stance to Alberta this week. He will join Smith on Friday at the Canada Strong and Free Network conference in Calgary. His keynote address is entitled “The Canadian Drift: Reclaiming Confidence, Abundance and Freedom for Alberta.”<\/p>\n Just Asking wants to know: What questions do you have about the Alberta referendum and the impact the vote will have on both the province and Canada?\u00a0Send us your questions<\/a> before our October 17 show.<\/p>\n Last week, the Conservative leader, also from Alberta, dismissed tech billionaire Elon Musk’s calls for Quebec, Alberta and Saskatchewan to separate<\/a> from Canada, saying “Canadians control their own destiny.”<\/p>\n Smith has said while she will vote to remain in Canada, she’ll vote yes to the other nine questions,<\/a> arguing that would send a message to Ottawa that provinces need more autonomy.<\/p>\n “I haven’t been neutral on that,” Smith told CBC News last week. “I’ve been persuading people that this is what we need to do.”<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/1792100410_213_default.jpg\")
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