The promises made during separation campaigns can be a “very dangerous bluff,” Prime Minister Mark Carney said on Monday ahead of an Alberta separatism referendum question later this year.
“This is an observation from experience. In these separation issues, it is often advanced that vote for this and it’s a free option. Vote for this and we will strengthen our hand in future negotiation. That is a very dangerous bluff,” Carney told reporters in Ottawa Monday.
Carney, who was the governor of the Bank of England during the 2016 Brexit referendum in the U.K., said he has seen how these campaigns play out.
“I saw first-hand what happened in the United Kingdom when the view was vote for this, it will be (a) soft (exit) and then we’ll negotiate, etc. They’re still, 10 years later, trying to undo what people didn’t think they were voting for,” he added.
Alberta is set to have a referendum on whether or not to pursue separating from Canada this fall.
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“I certainly will be campaigning for Canadian unity,” Carney said, adding that the campaign will be through “actions” and not just words.
“It’s practising co-operative federalism, with Alberta, with Quebec, with all provinces and territories in the country, with Indigenous Peoples as well.”
While he was leading the Bank of England, Carney warned that leaving the European Union might spark a recession in the U.K.
A recent report said the U.K.’s economy has shrunk eight per cent in the nine years since Brexit.
Being part of a united Canada brings “many economic advantages” for Alberta, Carney said, such as “being part of our large market, being part of free trade agreements with 1.5 billion people around the world.”
“Canadians take care of each other. We take care of each other in our social programs, we take care of each other across different provinces. We look out for each other internationally,” he said.
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The governments of Canada and Alberta have agreed to establish a carbon pricing system and agreed on a start date for a new oil pipeline that will be used to export energy to Asian markets, Carney and Alberta Premier Danielle Smith said earlier this month.
The agreements are part of a broader energy memorandum of understanding signed by Smith and Carney in November 2025.
Smith announced last week that an October referendum question will ask Albertans if they want to remain in Canada or start the process to hold a binding referendum on separation.
The annual western premiers conference kicks off in Alberta on Monday.
Leaders of British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, the Northwest Territories and the Yukon are to discuss business and their neighbouring relationships during the two-day conference in Kananaskis, west of Calgary.
At the conference, Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe weighed in, saying he believes Smith didn’t have a choice but to announce the vote under her provincial law.
“we’ve had 10 years of unconsulted, harmful policy by the previous prime minister,” he said.
While Moe said he aligns closely with Smith’s position on Alberta remaining in Canada, as the premier of Saskatchewan, he said it’s not for him to judge Albertans.
Meanwhile, B.C. Premier David Eby has remarked about the irony of a meeting with Canadian leadership in a province where the premier, in his words, “appears to be setting the table to leave the country.”
— with files from The Canadian Press
Godless Communists.
Repent !!! Heathen Liberals !
Carney is the best spokesperson for Alberta Independence. Every time he opens his arrogant mouth more Albertans want out of Communist Canada.
1
Elbozos Out are you aware of the significant overlap between Carney and Poilievre’s campaign? We have a very moderate federal government, yet the political banner matters more than policy for some folks.
Personally, I am appalled at Carney’s roll backs of environmental policy that he campaigned on in an effort to appease Alberta, essentially cutting the difference between his campaign with Poilievre. The younger generation will pay for Smith’s decisions.
But at least we have someone in Ottawa with economic savvy during these difficult times.
Corney is like an abusive spouse. Beats you up and expects you to smile about it. Gets mad when you complain about it.
We need a third referendum on whether we really need the second referendum on the first referendum.
Easy peasy Smith style!
More of her recalls and other useless zhit too.
Better than using that money for hospital waiting times! Just die fools.
Bozo is out: Phuck off Yank.
The Liberal Government has been bluffing Canadians for 11 years and the problem is that half of the electorate are so thick that they just keep lapping up the B.S. and voting Liberal
You know what else is a dangerous bluff Carney? Listening to you blabble on again about working with Alberta and making a new pipe line. Carney is all talk and we wouldn’t be here if not for him and the dirty liberals doing nothing but talking.
Time to tell Quebec the same thing. Carney needs to remember Lincoln’s observation – A country divided upon itself cannot stand. The problem is not Alberta it is Quebec or more accurately Southern Quebec. It is time to stop this idea that Quebec is a Nation – it was not ever in its history. There also was not Conquest since the French abandoned New France for strategic reasons and negotiated at settlement that most at the time would consider generous. In my lifetime Quebec has been heavily supported by Ottawa, mostly at the expense of West. So if Carney is worried about this issue he needs to deal with Quebec. We need a New and Modern Constitution. That is fair to all Canadians!! If Quebec opposes that then so be it.
REEEEEEELAX FOOLS, NEVER GONNA HAPPEN !!!
The prairie provinces are just colonies to support QC & ON. They just want us to shut up & go away
He makes me vomit
He makes me vomit.
Then send in the RCMP to arrest these traitors
Eastern parasites say what……?
“The little man” should know that Brexit and Albrta separation are two totaly different things !
Can somebody explain to ” the little man” ; Brexit and Alberta separation are two totaly different things !
Believing the Carney gov of the last 11 years is an even worse bluff.
Carney was also involved in a pyramid con game as governor of bank of England and was kicked out. Not reported in communist Liberal controlled Canada. Liberals Carney seized Canadian citizens bank accounts, closed government for a year to spin yet another liberal propaganda media narrative to get a minority government. Which to destroy democracy now has a majority. Yet all the liberal corruption leaving a communist controlled country is dangerous.
Nice try.
Why is Carney talking of Brexit? Brits wanted to leave the EU and they voted to do so. Is Carney questioning democracy as he knows better on the subject?
Mr Bluff Carney. Over a year and he still doesn’t have a trade deal done with Carney, even though he promised it. Totally useless honestly
Of cause corn hole carney is upset. With out alberta wrecks all his plans of stealing money from taxpayers with his ukrane donation money washing scam . And Brookfield. Its billions of dollars at stake . With out Alberta. There is now way to pat for supporting all them immigrants
Zero ani osity for the Canada unity people in Alberta, but as we see over and over again with our non-constitution, and activist federa judges (homelessness is now a protected ground against discrimination?) – my vote is clearly to establish a cooperative independence.
So many Carney bootlickers on this site.
Since 2020 Germany’s growth has been -0.4%. While the UK’s performance in weak, it’s not entirely attributable to Brexit. Poor policy choices count (including choices made by a certain head of Bank of England). Like deranged immigration and social programs. Attributing it all to Brexit a correlation fallacy. Our PM loves playing games.
Brexit was good for the U.K. Look at Europe now! Mind you, as an ex P.M. of the U.K. warned Canadians, don’t vote for Carney, he destroyed Britain – Carnage Carney they called him going crazy with his printing press
People all of the resources are on First Nation Lands which in the treaties even before Alberta became a province, they made an agreement to share the land with Canada. Those portions of the land will not follow with separation.
No bluffing here Carney. Besides who can bluff and lie about your plans for Alberta better than you. You are transparent.
@gordhasay Well as long as that also applies to the separatists in Quebec …. Or does your comment only apply to those in Alberta that feel aggrieved by the Federal Liberals and how they have treated Alberta as a cash cow over the decades.
Believe and support this farce on your own peril. Carney has been present during the worst of economic times for both countries he was Guvnor Of The Bank in.
Does that not give you id*ots who support this azzhole a clue at all? You Libbies truly cannot see the forest for the trees.
Take a hike carney
Of course there will be cost and sacrifice if Alberta leaves Canada. But what is the cost and sacrifice if Alberta decides to stay in Canada. Canada has one of the worst performing advanced economies in the OECD.
Carney still does not get it…
He needs to quit telling us how much he wants to keep Canada together, and start doing something about it.
Prime example: when talking about the provinces, and territories, why is he dragging indigenous people into it? That is one of the sticking points that Canadians have… It is not all about the natives. Time to put the municipalities of reserves on the right level.
Carney was leading the Bank of Canada during the last recession, then the Bank of England during their last recession. He helped Brexit. Now he is helping Alberta leave. – And he claims he is backing Canada? Please do not help!
Considering all the projects blocked, damage done by the Liberals and NDP, I doubt leaving could be worse
A bluff? With Alberta sitting on over a TRILLION DOLLARS of oil and natural gas?
We need a third referendum on whether we want the second referendum on the first one.
Plain and simple, Smith style.
I recall when Trudeau openly talked about “phasing out” the Western Canadian Oil and Gas Industry. The Liberals are the biggest threat
Have the vote, separatism will not pass and it will be done with.
A tempest in a ‘P-pot, nothing else except money wasted. The ‘separatists’ can then move to wherever they want and we will be rid of them.
I think Canada is already less of a player on the world stage because of our low population, and reliance on the US. If we further divide the country it weakens Canada even more. Things need to change and the east needs to understand the very real issues that have brought Alberta to the point it is at and work with Alberta to change that. More power needs to be in the hands of each province to govern themselves and their very different priorities. The Trudeau government fostered the division between east and west and that needs to be healed. A separation has far more repercussions than people have been led to believe.
Liberal hypocrisy anyone ?? Just a single word shows just how hypocritical the Liberals are ….. Quebec !!!
Quebec have been successfully for decades and with a Liberal government in power Quebec gets everything it asks for and more just to appease them. Its ok when it is done by Quebec, but not when Alberta does it. Hypocrites like Carney are nothing more than appeasers. Churchill got it right when he said “An appeaser is one who feeds a crocodile, hoping it will eat him last.” Carney and the Liberals fit that description to a tee when it comes to Quebec.
When will someone take out that cnt
The big issue with this is Alberta needs Canada to survive. Not the other way around
Nova Scotian here – Yes, Alberta should leave. Enough is enough. The constitution will never get changed so Canada is doomed. Carney is lying about that pipeline – he has no intention of getting it built.
Multiculturalism cannot successfully replace sustainable infrastructure planning, and that population growth without proper resource management creates economic instability for everyone
its not s bluff for me. the real reason is the complete madness of canada. excessive control,hate speech laws, gun control, carbon taxes, etc. these are just some if the reasons. gooo carney
Carney should talk about bluffing. Remember his “Elbows Up” rhetoric only to flip flop the day after the election was over.
Canada is the one that loses if Alberta separates. Alberta will do better if they do exit Canada.
Carney is correct.
Too late. Alberta and the West have been demonized by eastern Canada for far too long. Time to split this failed nation up.