Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre said he and all Conservative MPs will press for Alberta to remain part of Canada in any separatist referendum campaign in the province.
“I’m a strong Canadian federalist, a proud Albertan and a proud Canadian. I want a strong Alberta within a united Canada, and all Conservatives will be campaigning for Canadian unity in Alberta,” Poilievre said at a news conference in North Vancouver on Thursday.
“I will be campaigning across the province of Alberta, encouraging Albertans to stay as part of the Canadian family and encouraging nationwide unity for all Canadians.”
He also said the Conservatives would do the same if the Parti Québécois forms a government in Quebec and launches another separation referendum campaign in that province.
“It is the job of the prime minister of Canada to unite the country,” Poilievre said.
“As prime minister in waiting, I will begin that work myself.”
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith is scheduled to hold a televised address Thursday evening as her United Conservative Party government considers adding a question about Alberta’s future in Confederation to a slate of referendum questions in October.
A Wednesday legislative committee meeting meant to debate a potential referendum question was derailed when Smith’s government issued a press release saying the committee had voted in favour of holding a referendum on the province remaining in Canada — before the vote actually took place.
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The vote was then delayed as the committee dealt with that issue, but was set to resume later Thursday.
Poilievre said Prime Minister Mark Carney should do more to quell separatist sentiment in Alberta by pushing resource development, eliminating red tape for small businesses and dropping the gun buyback program.
The Conservative leader took aim at the last decade of Liberal governance in Ottawa and claimed separatist movements were seen as a thing of the past when Stephen Harper was prime minister.
“There was absolutely no separation movement whatsoever in Alberta. And the PQ and the (Bloc Québécois), the two separatist parties in Quebec, they didn’t even exist anymore. They had been wiped off the electoral map,” Poilievre said.
“It’s worth asking how the current prime minister is doing in that regard, given the situation in both Quebec and in Alberta.”
Carney has been making overtures to Alberta since taking office, including firming up an agreement last week that adjusted federal climate polices, including industrial carbon pricing, and backed plans to advance a new oil pipeline to the Pacific Coast.
The agreement set a target date for the pipeline’s completion in 2033 or 2034.
The prime minister also held a private meeting with B.C. Premier David Eby on Wednesday to talk about the pipeline deal and projects the provincial NDP government is looking to advance.
Eby has been highly critical of the agreement between Ottawa and Alberta, saying there is no private proponent for a pipeline and Alberta shouldn’t be rewarded for “behaving badly” — a reference to a potential separation referendum.
— With files from Wolfgang Depner in Victoria and Jack Farrell in Edmonton, The Canadian Press
If Pierre belived in democracy he would be demanding a vote on independence that the Alberta petition asked for as required by Canadian law.
If Albertans feel they are not treated right by Ottawa, then address their concerns until they are satisfied. The majority of Canada wants Alberta to remain because they want to, not because they are forced to.
Cons chasing their tails
What am I saying? He has more intelligence in his pinkie finger than my entire skull. Makes more money than I do, has a better looking wife, has more friends than I do. Talking about slippery little weasels, I like to cheer for parties that build a Majority by paying off MP turncoats who were originally elected by the people to support their conservative views and to represent the Conservative party. Basically i’m a loser, and he’s successful.
“Prime Minister in waiting”???? Hahahahahahahahahaha. What a delusional little man. Loses his own seat and has to beg to have one given to him. Charmless, slippery little weasel who has zero backbone and even less intelligence.
Go away pee pee. Let the adults run the show.
@JV Hahahaha! You’re completely off your rocker!
This will be the last election for the conservative Party, they do not have the numbers after immigration. They will pander to new arrivals and the light between the two parties will diminish even further. Canada is a prison with a very bad government.
Of course, that was back in the 1970’s, when the Liberal party was more normal and not the far-left maniacs we have now. This is why my life amounted to just a McJob and living in my parents’ basement.
Too funny! ;)
Rob didn’t the liberals do that? … Of course everyone wants Alberta to stay apart of the country… They make all the $$$
Good. Separatist losers just trying to destroy our Country. Totally mad all of them.
Les – Meanwhile the only reason the oilsands industry even exists is because of direct support from the Federal Liberals. If you don’t agree then you don’t know sh1t about the history of Alberta. Ignorance strong and free hey buddy
Hey Pierre! I doubt N. Vancouver cares what we do. At this point in the game, most Albertans have now realized that regardless of which party is in the PMO, our tax dollars will only go towards buying more votes in the east. After 120 years of being kicked around, enough is enough! Alberta, strong & free.