WorldPosted at: Oct 16 2026 8:04PM


Canadian PM Mark Carney urges Alberta to reject separation referendum, says US trying to weaken national unity

Calgary, Oct 16 (UNI) Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has warned that the US is seeking to weaken Canada so that it can "own us", urging Albertans to reject a push towards separation ahead of a vote on Monday.
"This referendum comes at the worst possible time," Carney told a pro-Canada rally in Calgary on Thursday. "The world has become more dangerous and divided. Some outside our borders are working to break us so they can own us."
Although he did not explicitly name the US or President Donald Trump in those remarks, Carney has previously issued similar warnings amid Trump's trade war with Canada and repeated threats to make it the 51st US state.
The vote will not directly determine whether Alberta becomes independent. Instead, voters will decide whether to instruct the provincial government to begin the legal process towards a future referendum on separation.
Alberta, which holds the world's fourth-largest proven oil reserves, has long been at odds with federal governments over energy policy and Ottawa's authority. Carney, who grew up in the province, urged voters not to use the ballot simply to send a message to the federal government.
"Don't be fooled by the idea you can 'send a message' with your vote," he said. "This is not poker. A vote against Canada is a dangerous bluff that will lead to years of deep division and great uncertainty."
Carney addressed the Forever Canadian rally at Calgary's BMO Centre after campaigning in the city throughout the day. His office estimated that around 5,000 people attended, with some waiting more than two hours to clear security. Another rally with the prime minister was scheduled in Edmonton on Friday.
He highlighted the connections between Alberta and the rest of Canada, pointing to residents who had moved to the province from elsewhere in the country and firefighters who travel from across Canada to help tackle wildfires.
Carney also acknowledged the grievances driving support for separation, saying Albertans' frustrations were real.
He recalled growing up when people in the province felt Ottawa treated their natural resources as though they did not belong to them, and said more recently Alberta had been made to feel its energy industry was "against the tides of history".
The prime minister has sought to address some of those concerns by departing from policies associated with his predecessor, Justin Trudeau. His government has fast-tracked a proposed pipeline to the Pacific and promoted Canada's position as an energy superpower.
Carney cited the proposed Pacific Link pipeline as evidence of a changing relationship between Alberta and Ottawa, saying it would create more than 140,000 jobs and generate revenue for social programmes.
His remarks drew the loudest cheers when he said the project would reduce Canada's dependence on the US.
"Careful, they might think that's election interference. A little touchy," Carney joked, referring to US Ambassador Pete Hoekstra's warning to Canadian politicians against interfering in the American midterm elections.
The Alberta separation campaign has gained traction in recent years after remaining on the political fringes for decades. Following the Covid-19 pandemic and the 2022 Freedom Convoy protests, activists who had campaigned against vaccine mandates and other restrictions turned their attention towards independence.
The trucker-led convoy initially opposed vaccine requirements for cross-border drivers before expanding into a broader protest against pandemic restrictions. It paralysed parts of downtown Ottawa and blocked major Canada-US border crossings.
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Tags: #Canadian PM Mark Carney urges Alberta to reject separation referendum# says US trying to weaken national unity
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