Prime Minister Mark Carney told thousands rallying in Calgary on Thursday night that Albertans should vote to keep the province in Canada, arguing that failing to do so will cause “deep division and great uncertainty.”
Carney spoke at a Forever Canadian rally ahead of Monday’s referendum on the whether the province should stay in Confederation or hold a second, binding referendum on separation.
Many in the cheering crowd wore red and white, hoisted hockey sticks with Canadian flags and sported Team Canada jerseys. The Prime Minister’s Office estimated at least 5,000 in attendance.
“The stakes are high,” said Carney adding the referendum comes at the worst possible time.
The world has become more dangerous and divided, he said, and some outside Canada’s borders are working to “break us so they can own us.”
“At this pivotal moment, Albertans have a choice: to build a stronger Alberta and an even greater Canada to leave for our children or we can burden them with years of deep division and great uncertainty.
“What we need is a decisive result on Monday to settle this question.”
The Forever Canadian campaign, launched by former Alberta deputy premier Thomas Lukaszuk, seeks to encourage Albertans to vote to stay in Canada.
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Carney said frustrations in Alberta are real but that Canada is working in a spirit of co-operative federalism. A vote against Canada is a dangerous bluff that could lead to years of lost opportunities, he said.
“Don’t let anyone tell you this is already decided,” he said. “Turnout will determine the outcome.”
Carney is scheduled to attend another Forever Canadian rally in Edmonton on Friday, as well as meet with business leaders alongside Premier Danielle Smith in Red Deer.
Federal Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre is set to deliver his own speech supporting Canadian unity Friday during a Canada Strong and Free Network conference in Calgary. Smith is also to address the event.
Earlier on Thursday, Carney was swamped by selfie-seeking well-wishers as he made several stops in Calgary.
At one event, he urged Albertans to not only vote for Confederation but also to reject the nine other questions on the referendum ballot involving immigration and the Constitution.
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Careful, they might think that’s election interference,’ Carney teases U.S. at pro-Canada rally
Smith has said she needs a yes to those nine to send a message to Ottawa that provinces need more autonomy and respect.
The nine questions focus on giving Alberta more power over immigration while also erecting restrictions, and perhaps fees, for some newcomers and temporary workers who want to access health care, education and other social services.
Smith has said immigration costs are prohibitively expensive, but critics have called her questions an anti-immigrant dog whistle.
The nine questions ask Albertans to give their blessing for the government to work with other provinces to change the Constitution in order to wrest power from Ottawa and abolish the Senate.
Smith’s government committed $4 million to an advertising campaign pushing voters to support the nine, and a “strong and sovereign Alberta within a united Canada.”
The Prime Minister’s Office said it’s spending about $250,000 on its “O Canada” ad campaign.
At the same time Carney was scheduled to attend the Calgary rally, Smith was set to headline a $500-a-plate United Conservative Party fundraiser also in Calgary.
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Advance polls open for Alberta referendum -
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Prime Minister talks national unity in Calgary -
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Political parties, third-party advertisers encourage Albertans to vote in referendum -
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Advance polls open across Alberta in historic referendum on separation -
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Advance voting begins in Alberta referendum -
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Record number of voters expected in Alberta’s fall referendum -
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Referendum campaign on final stretch before Oct. 19 vote
Mee
October 16, 2026 at 8:35 am
Reading these comments the only thing broken in Canada is the education system.
So educate us oh wise one! Please help us under educated bums. Enlighten us with you superior knowledge. Oh Please please! Otherwise, shut the f*ck up.
I voted like Alberta depends on it.
Sure, that’s a good point Mr Prime Minister. But I hope you remember how important Alberta is once this is over.
Separate ALBERTA! New chapter in your life. BETTER! Get out of TOXIC relationship! You are the hardest working people I’ve ever met! Highly educated, get r done attitude! You and your kind built Alberta into a powerhouse, but you can go MUCH MUCH FURTHER! Best to you! VOTE! Happy days are ahead!😊
Good news is I just placed an order of crying towels from Amazon shipped directly to Alberta…..that and some medication …. for when the hope of separation is finally ended.
Also….wasn’t your convoy , a convoy for freedom?! You know….freedom of speech etc. If you can yap then I can yap too kinda thing?!
@anonymous…lol….how did you even know what I said? Did someone help you with the big words?! Not all conservatives are stupid people….but all stupid people are conservatives. ( actual quite 100yrs ago)Please try to keep it together when you lose in 3 days and your dreams of running your own show are dashed, and you have to go back to pushing a broom! And please ….no more convoys!!!!
Those voting to stay are simply cowards afraid of change, they will keep the status quo because they’re complacent and don’t see the things are getting worse, for the whole country not just Alberta, with each year Liberals are in the office.
Quebec needs Alberta’s transfer payment! We need to keep Alberta in Canada or else Quebec will collapse!
Key words “Vote Like Canada Depends On It” is the exact reason why this referendum is happening in the first place. The milk is running dry for the rest of Canada and Alberta is the only thing keeping the easterners floating.
@ Bc peasant you need to go get a job ! Do smthing with your loser life please just f off
Separate ALBERTA! Follow your dreams! New Beginning, New start! Always worked out well for me! Like going university for 4 year engineering, come out with a degree! World is your oyster, you have fourth largest oil and gas reserves on planet, highly educated workforce. Do it. Don’t look back. You’ll be thankful and HAPPY 😊
just Carney begging for a lifeline for all his corruption and lie’s.
It seems Corney holds 3 citizenships: Canada (born in Fort Smith, Northwest Territories), Republic of Ireland in1980 (Acquired in the 1980s through family ancestry), United Kingdom (Obtained in 2018 while serving as Governor of the Bank of England). Corney holds investments in hundreds of prominent U.S.A. companies, primarily held within a third-party managed investment portfolio: Stripe Inc., Watershed Technology, Brookfield Asset Management (holds$6.8 million). I assume that this guy would vote for the USA with both hands if he could :) to acquire fourth citizenship and keep an eye on his assets closely!
“The world has become more dangerous and divided, he said”
Yeah, because of dangerous & divisive LPC policies.
Vote like you want the Liberals gone.
Thanks Mark. I will vote like “Canada depends on it”, because it does. Option 2!
Voting Liberal purely for hate towards Trump in the last election could be the direct reason Alberta does become the 51’st state. We we wouldn’t be concerned about Alberta separation right now if Poilievre won. Trump hates Liberals and Canada proved how stupid we are by re-electing such a disastrous government. Carney cozying up with China justifies Trump’s threat concerns. There is no chance the US would allow Canada to be a backdoor for China and India.
@ dee Ironside….lol. You got your tin foil hat on today?! If you dopes seperate we own the port! And Quebec! If you guys seperate you think we’re friends?! We’re not friends now! You think you’ll get a better deal or worse? Your not in control…you only think you are! Dillusionaly deranged just like the freedom convoy!
@Ben 1048 am. The most misinformed poster here who lacks brains. And gen z to so is just a loudmouth punk
@Ben 1048 am. Shut up. You do not no how to write and have the intelligence and personality of a headless snake.
Mark Carney has nothing of value to offer Albertans. His promises mean nothing and he has zero credibility.
Hey Ben, time to wake up. Using your same stupid narrative about Alberta being land locked. You do know that the first trade deal for a seperate Alberta will be the the West coast. Even dopy Ebe knows the port of Vancouver and BC in general is toast if they can not transport products through Alberta to the rest of Canada.
Yes, vote like Canada depends on those Alberta dollars to fund all those liberal inspired social programs.
Afterwards we can go back to ignoring them and start the process to shut down the Alberta economy.
There such rubes out there.
American AI has been targeting Canadian media for some time. 80% of the Anti-Canadian banter on Global news is BOTS. Figure it out fellow Canadians. Time to go the distance and block American Media as a whole. Quit reading American news to inform yourself. The world is a big place. Greedy tech barrons and disgusting billionairs should NOT be calling the shots. WAKE UP.
Carney is a f@g
Alberta oil revenues feed the federal treasury that supports the rest of Canada. Canada would then have to buy oil from an independant Alberta. Debating immigration is not a hate crime.
Waving the Canadian flag like a fig leaf
Carney’s business is in the US his kids go to school in the US
And his results in Canada after more than a year?
A big fat 0
And lots of worthless MOU
To those arguing for separation, how will Alberta get it’s resources to market? Landlocked states have to rely on the United Nations convention on the Law of the Sea, which doesn’t guarantee a landlocked state (in this case Alberta) access through BC to tidewater. If a separate Alberta wants to deal with the US, pipelines from Alberta have been blocked by the US federal government and other interests. This is where separatists trip up and claim some imaginary law will let them ship oil through Canada. Given the barriers faced shipping oil WITHIN Canada, they say it will be easier when Alberta is a separate country. Intuitively that arguement is a non starter.
lets see Alberta independancday
leave canada be independant or go with usa
Keep talking Carney. Every time you open your mouth to tell Albertans what to do, more vote for independence.
Well, Carney depends on it.
Carney should deal with the tariffs because Canada depends on it. He should take note of what he is saying and act accordingly in dealing with Trump and get Canada a deal. Instead he walks away from a deal simply because the US wouldn’t allow Chinese EV’s and Chinese steel to be funnelled through Canada into the US. We all know just who Carney’s loyalty goes to and it isn’t Canada.
Voting like Canada depends on it means ignoring the weasel and voting as your conscience tells you. We still have freedom to vote our own way so that bum should keep his big trap shut. When do we ever hear anything like that from our PM when it is Quebec voting. Never !!!
Alberta will be the new 51st state!!
This comment is paid for by the Forever Canada rally!!
Vote like Canada depends on it would mean not to vote for the Liberals or Carney regime.
If you’re going to Vote like Canada depends on it ,vote Conservative,almost 12 years of the Liberals destroying Canada,they are known around the world as the most corrupt government…
Carney trying to convince Albertans to stay on the SS Elbows Up Titanic. I want better for my families future so I want Alberta to leave Canada
No point trying to change minds now. There are people loyal not to Canada but to the Liberal Party of Canada. They don’t care what happens to Canada as long as they believe what the Liberal Party does is right. Where as Albertans are loyal to Albertans. We want what is best for us not a leader, not a party, not some policies.
Why doesn’t he govern that way?
People comment investment will leave Alberta if they achieve independence. With Alberta IN Canada they estimate billions of dollars has already left Alberta because of the Federal Government policies and restrictions.
@Ben
Quite the opposite. This is why an independent Alberta will flourish:
1) Getting away from the lead weight Canadian economy,
2) keeping $20 billion a year (conservative estimate) that would otherwise be stolen by Quebec,
3) not being hamstrung by the 9 bad laws
4) finally having representative government and steering our own ship.
An Independent Alberta will be a beautiful sight!
You’ve convinced me Mark Carney. Option 2 and ‘yes’ to all but question 3. Thanks.
The Forever Canadians who say things like “if you don’t like Canada, then just leave” (Anonymous 12:55 am) make me laugh.
That is exactly what we are trying to do! LOL
Those who believe Albertans should vote on a separation referendum simply to gain more leverage with the federal government are failing to consider the bigger picture. A referendum would introduce significant economic uncertainty, regardless of the outcome. Alberta could hold a vote a year from now, and the separatists might well lose, but the economic damage would already be done. In the meantime, private investment would leave the province as businesses and investors seek more stable and predictable environments. Rather than strengthening Alberta’s position, the prospect of separation could undermine investor confidence in both Alberta and Canada, making them appear politically unstable and unreliable on the world stage. Anyone urging another referendum to threaten Ottawa is, respectfully, someone who knows nothing about basic economics. Indeed they are the textbook definition of a dangerous charlatan.
Reading these comments the only thing broken in Canada is the education system
F*ck you carney! YOU ARE MANIPULATING THE VOTE!! you are a hypocrite fascist pig and yes when Canada votes, we need to vote your lying azz right on out of here ASAP!
It does because if the vote to separate. Canada is finally bankrupt ! Elbows up losers!
Proud Canadian your such a pos you make me want to puke you got three shades of s^^^t on your nose
the clown needs to stay out of interfering in Alberta’s election
As PM Mark Carney has an obligation to explain the benefits of remaining in Canada. I’m ok with that. I’m am bothered though with his telling us how to answer the questions. That is interfering in our referendum isn’t it?
Stay in your lane Mark
Carney and company looks at Albertans as rubes to be fleeced. Step right up suckers!
United Canada Strong and Free ! Screw the 1% seperatist opportunists.
Elbows up Stockholm syndrome people!
I’ll be voting tonight, a yes vote for separation.
Anonymous @1:15am to 2:46am.
The village idiot. Homsexual and angry
Importing more filthy uneducated welfare cases into the country won’t fix what is broken. Save yourselves while you still can !
Free Alberta from liberal tyranny! Free Canada of broken and exploitive immigration practices! Free Quebec! Liberal corporation and greed has home too far for too long! Restore Canada!
Carney said “Some outside our borders are working to break us so they can own us.” We can see that in the comments with the US and Russia interfering. As well, clearly some Poilievre conservatives are also putting their party before country.
Questions
Each question will be on its own individual ballot.[14] The following questions be asked:[15][6]
Non-constitutional questions
Do you support the Government of Alberta taking increased control over immigration for the purposes of decreasing immigration to more sustainable levels, prioritizing economic migration and giving Albertans first priority on new employment opportunities?
Do you support the Government of Alberta introducing a law mandating that only Canadian citizens, permanent residents and individuals with an Alberta-approved immigration status will be eligible for provincially-funded programs, such as health care, education and other social services?
Assuming that all Canadian citizens and permanent residents continue to qualify for social support programs as they do now, do you support the Government of Alberta introducing a law requiring all individuals with a non-permanent legal immigration status to reside in Alberta for at least 12 months before qualifying for any provincially-funded social support programs?
Assuming that all Canadian citizens and permanent residents continue to qualify for public health care and education as they do now, do you support the Government of Alberta charging a reasonable fee or premium to individuals with a non-permanent immigration status living in Alberta for their and their family’s use of the healthcare and education systems?
Do you support the Government of Alberta introducing a law requiring individuals to provide proof of citizenship, such as a passport, birth certificate, or citizenship card, to vote in an Alberta provincial election?
Constitutional questions
Do you support the Government of Alberta working with the governments of other willing provinces to amend the Canadian Constitution to have provincial governments, and not the federal government, select the justices appointed to provincial King’s Bench and Appeal courts?
Do you support the Government of Alberta working with the governments of other willing provinces to amend the Canadian Constitution to abolish the unelected federal Senate?
Do you support the Government of Alberta working with the governments of other willing provinces to amend the Canadian Constitution to allow provinces to opt out of federal programs that intrude on provincial jurisdiction such as health care, education, and social services, without a province losing any of the associated federal funding for use in its social programs?
Do you support the Government of Alberta working with the governments of other willing provinces to amend the Canadian Constitution to better protect provincial rights from federal interference by giving a province’s laws dealing with provincial or shared areas of constitutional jurisdiction priority over federal laws when the province’s laws and federal laws conflict?
Independence question
Main article: 2026 Alberta independence referendum
Should Alberta remain a province of Canada or should the Government of Alberta commence the legal process required under the Canadian Constitution to hold a binding provincial referendum on whether or not Alberta should separate from Canada?[16]
Ah yes the Forever Enslaved Elbozo crowd!
Read the questions before you just slap an “X” where these authoritarians want you too. Think of the future generations and not just of yoursself.
There are no reasons to stay in a dumpster fire
United we stand, divided we fall. Rinse and repeat. No other way around it folks. Think for the long term. Don’t let the divisive types fool you otherwise. We are stronger together unless ofcourse you live in the bush somewhere which is unlikely.
If you are not elbows up you are a traitor to Canada
I see the poop flinging monkeys have arrived.
@1255, go blow your dad, uncles, grandad, great grandad (even if dead) and all their friends, then smoke some crack and OD
Carney needs to die.
12.55 how about you go f*** ur self
I think alberta needs to separate before we all speak east indian as the first language
It’s been a couple of weeks since Carney has taken a vacation,(Oops, I mean a trade trip).Anybody wanna bet he leaves the country as soon as he is finished in Alberta?
Gotta keep the smoke and mirrors machine going to cover up his failure with the grocery prices and trade deal promises he dropped the ball on.
If you guys do leave, Ill still come visit Banff. No hard feelings
better to separate.. there is lot of scope .. all other canadians are no more.. there r all immigrants only.. only hybrids
As much as this is a complete waste of taxpayer money people need to get out and vote which ever way they want and let the majority make the decision for the Wildrose UCP floor crossing Premier.
@ 12:30 Anonymous – If you want to do something for the majority pack up and leave.
Ii agree with anonymous 11.57 the snow flakes below 11.54 telling everyone what to vote .he can go f** his azz I will vote yes to all and option2 and I will do it for you !
Show Danielle Smith the consequences for indulging the minority fringe of the UCP party with her partisan Alberta Next tour. Force her to face a non-confidence vote.
Commenter below, keep eating carnholes azz out loser
There are 4 constitutional referendum questions for the anti-Ottawa UCP cranks.
There are 5 immigration referendum questions for the UCP racists.
Vote no to all 9 and remain for #10.