Alberta is on the fast track to get a new oil pipeline to the B.C. coast – but leaders who want the province to quit Canada say that doesn’t move the needle for them on wanting to stay in Confederation.
“This doesn’t change the system whatsoever,” Cory Morgan said in an interview.
“(The separation issue) is much deeper than the pipeline for people like me and the dedicated, independence supporters.”
Morgan, an online political commentator and organizer behind the Pathway to Independence separatist group, has been one of the public faces in the debate over whether Alberta should stay or go.
In just over two weeks, Albertans will go to the polls in an Oct. 19 referendum on whether to stay in Canada or launch a second, binding referendum on separating.
Premier Danielle Smith called the vote, saying the debate is intensifying and needs a resolution one way or the other. Critics have said Smith is just whipping up fringe grievances to placate separatists in her United Conservative Party.
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She has said she will vote to stay in Canada and has touted joint provincial-federal projects like a pipeline as an example of how the country is better together.
On Thursday, she reiterated that message as she and Prime Minister Mark Carney shared the lectern in Fort McMurray, announcing a big leap forward for a Pacific Link pipeline to take Alberta oil to the B.C. coast.
The line has now been declared a major project in the public interest. That helps streamline timelines and consultations that could see shovels in the ground a year from now.
Keith Wilson, co-leader of separatist group Let Alberta Decide, says the pipeline announcement is, ironically, a great example of why it’s time Alberta left Confederation.
He said the project has taken too much time, political capital and governmental resources just to get Alberta’s resources to market.
He said rather than have authority under law to marshal its own natural resources, Alberta was going cap in hand to Carney to avoid lengthy assessments and consultation.
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Alberta referendum results show decisive support for staying in Canada -
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Danielle Smith calls for unity as Alberta separatists challenge her leadership -
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Alberta referendum: Separatist leader Jeff Rath says province will never be independent as long as ‘avowed federalist’ Danielle Smith is UCP leader -
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One-on-one with Vancouver Mayor-elect Pete Fry
“(Ottawa) created a bypass route where you require the personal blessing of His Majesty Prime Minister Carney and if you get that blessing, which was bestowed upon us here in Alberta today, you may get permission to go to the next step,” Wilson said in an interview Thursday.
Jeffrey Rath, a lawyer for the separatist group Stay Free Alberta, posted to social media Thursday that Alberta should still go its own way, and take the new pipeline – and its billions of dollars in revenue — with it.
“Keep all of the money in Alberta,” Rath wrote.
“Don’t share any of it with Ottawa or any anti-pipeline provinces like Quebec.”
But in Fort McMurray, the ground zero of Alberta’s oil industry, the local leader says he understands why residents have been upset with federal government rules he says have hamstrung energy development.
Sandy Bowman, mayor of the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo, said Thursday’s pipeline announcement shows the value of co-operation. On Oct. 19, said Bowman, he’s voting to stay in Canada.
“This announcement today shows that when you have our provincial government and our federal government working in the same direction, big things are going to happen,” he said.
“When Fort McMurray does well, Alberta does well. And when Alberta does, Canada does.”
Commenter below, keep blowing carnhole like it’s your last meal on earth
People here are still talking like Ottawa is the same government that blocked pipelines years ago. It isn’t. The current leadership has already reversed those eco policies and fast tracked the Pacific Link pipeline — that’s a major shift, not a symbolic gesture.
With U.S. tariff pressure rising, Canada needs Alberta’s energy sector operating at full strength. That’s why federal policy is changing. Ignoring that reality doesn’t make it disappear.
Alberta has far more leverage inside Canada right now than it ever would trying to negotiate pipeline access as a foreign country. The landscape has moved on — some people just haven’t kept up.
Cory Morgan is often presented as a major voice in Alberta’s independence debate, but it’s important to understand the limits of his influence. He’s described in the Global News article as “an online political commentator and organizer behind the Pathway to Independence group” — not an economist, not a constitutional expert, and not someone with a professional background in public finance.
His career has been in oil field surveying and political activism, not in fiscal policy, economic modelling, or government budgeting. He has no formal role in the referendum process, no institutional authority, and no financial credentials that would qualify him to advise Albertans on the economic realities of independence.
Morgan’s contributions are political opinions, not expert analysis. As Alberta approaches the referendum, it’s worth keeping in mind that the loudest voices aren’t always the most qualified ones — and that decisions about the province’s future should be guided by credible economic data, not commentary from individuals without financial or policy expertise.
Fugging dainty boy fruity azz lefties
F*CK you too you leftard POS, keep eating carnholes jizzwiz
F *uck all of you!
@MAGA you are clearly apoxic. Your own nation is set to collapse.
Keep being uneducated. It’s a great look on you.
Of course a new pipeline doesn’t mean anything to Albertan / Russian paid separatists.
They want to economically damage the province and the country, separation is just the method.
The pipeline has changed from MOU to ‘designated’. If the vote for an independence referendum fails, the pipeline dream will fade away.
@control, go sck carnholes azz out
Why is this Global News site allowing threats and disgusting wording in their commenting forum??
MAGA…
You should be banned from commenting on here since all you think and write about is assault weaponry and nuking people!!
1 to 9: No way hose’
10: Option 2
Maybe they can push the pipe thru ground while at it.
The pipe line is Carney’s ace in the hole ! Slam dunk !! Elbows up !! Look out !!!! …..now Alberta won’t separate and Brookfield makes billions . As there is stacks of tax money to wash . And they can continue bring in millions of east indians ..its a win win !!!!
When Alberta separates every adult citizen will get an assault rifle and thousand rounds of ammo
Yes to the 9!
Carney’s blowing smoke up your azz . If it did actually get built (it never will ) all that happens is a few jobs that will end and .a pipe line that will azz rape albertas resources so the liberals can wash it and just bring in more east indians . I don’t see a winner, either way
Its one of the tools liberals pulled just before the vote .but in reality it will never happen . Since carney promised first nation’s no pipe line will ever be built
We’ll even throw in two more Nukes for vancouver and toronto
When you separate we’ll give you a Nuke to point at ottawa
on 20 october, the ballots have been counted, showing that albertans have overwhelmingly chosen to remain proud, strong canadians.
we will also have overwhelmingly rejected danielle smith’s personal ideological pet projects.
this, by rights should result in her immefdiate resignation, or a snap election.
albertans, get out to vote and get us rid once and for all of this gang of MAGA terrorists
Shat down ottawa’s throat ALBERTA!
I hate that everyone flocks to Alberta, away from BC. Maybe the chugs will go there after DRIPA is reversed and everyone in BC is cheering for the Cons. Too funny! 😂😂😂
Alberta sucks 🐓any ways 😂😂😂
Someone shove a large, bumby cucumber up my loose communist azz.
Some one seat those annoying Alberta sepaRACISTS
Someone swat those annoying Alberta sepaRACISTS
JC and his sunshine band. Just move to US.SR already. We get stronger when the cancer separatists go away
I agree with Ali’s comment. This is just a ruse by Carney & Smith to sway people to vote for option 1 on Question 10. If the pipeline is deemed of “national interest” then the PM could really fast track it and start the project now. This pipeline will never happen. Once the referendum is over or if he calls an election and gets his majority, then this pipeline of “national interest” will be cancelled.
If ya don’t like being Canadian and subscribe to and promote American values and trump policies , go fing move there . Take Yankee doodlers Dani with eu and go move in with your hero trump . Don’t forget your knee pads .
Self serving Easter Canadian parasites have no choice but to let this go through. They need the oil money because they have nothing to offer the world that anyone wants.
Too little too late.
Canada is dead. Thank a liberal voters. Those ass clowns wreck everything
Build the pipeline, reap the rewards Alberta, Separate, give no more money to Quebec, who did not want a pipeline.
It’s just a desperate attempt at the 11th hour to sway voters to remain in a broken country. There will be no pipeline as long as Carney remains in power. Do not be fooled Alberta!!
What a waste of time and tax dollars. You cannot separate. Not gonna happen. The seppys driving this agenda a bad actors. Nothing more.
Those poor Seppies are going to be so disappointed.
But now we know who they all are and will be treated like the traitors they are.