Carney, Poilievre bring federalist push to Alberta ahead of referendum vote

Prime Minister Mark Carney and Opposition Leader Pierre Poilievre are both bringing a pro-unity message to Alberta, just days before voters in the province decide whether to trigger a binding referendum on separation.

Federal government spending $250K on 'united Canada' ads

Catharine Tunney · CBC News

· Posted: Oct 15, 2026 12:25 PM EDT | Last Updated: 5 minutes ago

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Prime Minister Mark Carney and Opposition Leader Pierre Poilievre are both bringing a pro-unity message to Alberta, just days before voters in the province decide whether to trigger a binding referendum on separation.

Carney is scheduled to join former Alberta deputy premier Thomas Lukaszuk at a rally for his "Forever Canadian" group on Thursday. The prime minister is also expected to attend a similar event on Friday in Edmonton, where he grew up, ahead of Monday's vote. 

The critical Oct. 19 vote follows decades of Western grievances and a sense of alienation from Ottawa and was brought forward by separatists after Alberta Premier Danielle Smith lowered the threshold needed to prompt a public referendum. 

The ballot includes 10 questions addressing immigration and constitutional issues, and one on whether the province should stay in Canada or hold a binding referendum on separating. 

Over the weekend, Carney focused his Thanksgiving Day message on Alberta's upcoming referendum, saying the country is "worth fighting for," while pointing to projects Ottawa backs, including the proposed new pipeline to the West Coast.

"You can't build big things on fault lines," he said.

• Mark Carney faces the return of national unity politics

• Poilievre shrugs off Musk's pro-separatist posts: 'Canadians control their own destiny'

Since Oct. 6, the government has been using a new video that uses archetypal images — from outdoor hockey to rolling mountains to a hospital gurney — as the national anthem is read aloud to pitch that a "united Canada is a stronger Canada."

The campaign, running both on television and online ahead of Monday's vote, will cost an estimated $250,000, according to the Privy Council Office. 

Poilievre will join Smith on Friday at the Canada Strong and Free Network conference in Calgary, where he's expected to speak.

Last week, the Conservative leader, also from Alberta, dismissed tech billionaire Elon Musk's calls for Quebec, Alberta and Saskatchewan to separate from Canada, saying "Canadians control their own destiny."

Thousands of Albertans have already cast their ballots in advanced polls ahead of Monday's closely watched referendum.