{"id":935247,"date":"2026-10-16T13:58:15","date_gmt":"2026-10-16T13:58:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/935247\/"},"modified":"2026-10-16T13:58:15","modified_gmt":"2026-10-16T13:58:15","slug":"carney-to-bring-his-pro-canada-campaign-to-edmonton-with-referendum-just-days-away","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/935247\/","title":{"rendered":"Carney to bring his pro-Canada campaign to Edmonton with referendum just days away"},"content":{"rendered":"

EDMONTON \u2014 Prime Minister Mark Carney continues his pro-Canada campaign in Alberta as the clock ticks down to a referendum on whether the province should break up with Confederation.<\/p>\n

He is set to visit Red Deer with Premier Danielle Smith today and later rally in Edmonton with the federalist group Forever Canadian.<\/p>\n

Carney spoke Thursday at one of the group\u2019s rallies in Calgary, telling the crowd of roughly 5,000 that a vote against Canada is a dangerous bluff that could lead to years of lost opportunities.<\/p>\n

He says frustrations in Alberta are real but that Canada is working in the spirit of co-operative federalism.<\/p>\n

Smith has put 10 questions on Monday\u2019s referendum, including one on whether Alberta should stay in Canada or hold a second, binding vote on leaving.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, Smith and federal Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre will both speak at a conference in Calgary about keeping Alberta in the Confederation fold.<\/p>\n

With voters just days away from the polls, those who attended Thursday\u2019s rally said Albertans in favour of separation have valid concerns, but Canada is worth fighting for.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve got everything we need here and we\u2019re stronger together than we are apart,\u201d said Bill Chan, who lives in Calgary.<\/p>\n

Chan said he heard from Carney\u2019s remarks a more \u201cconciliatory\u201d tone in how Ottawa would treat provinces and territories going forward, notably Alberta.<\/p>\n

He also said parts of the prime minister\u2019s speech hit home.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat he said about Canada being a country that was built historically by people banding together really stuck out for me,\u201d Chan said. <\/p>\n

\u201cBecause if history is any guide, going separate ways has never proven to be as strong and as impactful as doing things together.\u201d<\/p>\n

Carney told those gathered that the referendum comes at the worst possible time.<\/p>\n

The world has grown more dangerous and divided, he said, and some outside Canada\u2019s borders were working to \u201cbreak us so they can own us.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAt this pivotal moment, Albertans have a choice: to build a stronger Alberta and an even greater Canada to leave for our children or we can burden them with years of deep division and great uncertainty,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat we need is a decisive result on Monday to settle this question.\u201d<\/p>\n

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 16, 2026.<\/p>\n

\u2014 With files from Dayne Patterson in Calgary<\/p>\n

The Canadian Press<\/p>\n

\t\tKeep it Factual<\/p>\n

Add CityNews Montreal as a trusted source on Google to see more local stories from us.<\/p>\n

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