Carney campaigns for Canadian unity before Alberta secession vote

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney campaigned for national unity in Alberta on Thursday, ahead of an upcoming vote that could lead to a binding independence referendum in the oil-rich province. While polls suggest less than a quarter of Alberta's nearly five million residents want to break away from Canada, Carney emphasized the importance of people showing up to vote and supporting both Alberta and Canada.

During a television interview in Calgary, Carney said, "Polls don’t vote. We need people to show up and vote and stand up for Alberta, stand up for Canada." He added, "We're in a more dangerously divided world and we have friction with the US." Speaking with local business leaders, Carney stated, "I can't think of a worse time to have a referendum."

Alberta's right-wing Premier Danielle Smith opposes independence but called the non-binding vote a "divisive issue." If a majority votes for independence, Smith has pledged to initiate a legally binding separation process. Conversely, if the majority votes to remain in Canada, Smith promises not to call for another referendum.

Mitch Sylvestre, head of the Alberta Prosperity Project, a prominent separatist organization, hinted at a possible referendum victory, saying, "I would be very surprised if we got less than 40 percent." Sylvestre told AFP, "There's no magic line dictating what defines a nation, but I believe Alberta's case for nationhood is harder to make than that of other groups."

Carney has focused on Alberta's oil industry in his plans to strengthen Canada's economy and lessen dependence on the US. He has backed new pipeline projects to boost crude production, marking a contrast with his predecessor Justin Trudeau, who faced criticism in Alberta for allegedly hindering oil industry growth in favor of environmental policies. Carney has advocated for the proposed pipeline as a means to ensure Alberta's future prosperity within a united Canada.

Separatists in Alberta voice concerns about immigration levels and individual liberty, but their grievances mostly center on oil industry management. According to Syracuse University professor Ryan Griffiths, who specializes in global secessionist groups, Alberta is an outlier among separatist movements due to its focus on economic motivations. Griffiths noted that most secessionist movements have economic motivations tied to linguistic or nationalist components, making Alberta's case for nationhood less straightforward.