Speaking to reporters on Monday, Carney said he will be campaigning for Canadian unity in the coming months.<\/p>\n
“We have to be very careful about this,” he said, adding: “There is a very strong, positive case for Canada, a strong Alberta in a united Canada.”<\/p>\n
Supporters of Alberta independence believe that the oil-rich province has long been overlooked by decision-makers in Ottawa, the national capital, and that federal environmental policies have hindered its ability to build oil and gas pipelines and develop its natural resources.<\/p>\n
The referendum comes after a grassroots independence movement gathered more than 300,000 signatures this year for a petition calling for a vote on separation, enough to trigger a referendum.<\/p>\n
But a court decision quashed the petition after indigenous First Nations in Alberta successfully argued they were not properly consulted. <\/p>\n
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith said she will proceed with a referendum question on separation regardless, pointing to a separate, counter-petition advocating for Alberta to remain, signed by more than 400,000 people.<\/p>\n
Smith said she disagreed with the legal decision and believed that Albertans have a right to voice their opinion in a plebiscite.<\/p>\n
Smith has said she will campaign for Alberta to remain in Canada, saying the province’s relationship with Ottawa has improved in recent months.<\/p>\n