In the final stretch before Monday’s pivotal referendum, Prime Minister Mark Carney made a whirlwind visit to Alberta’s largest city on Thursday, urging voters to reject not only separation but also nine additional ballot measures backed by Premier Danielle Smith that he warned could deepen divisions within Confederation.
A Day of Grassroots Engagement
Carney’s Alberta tour kicked off at a northeast Calgary restaurant, where he was mobbed by well-wishers eager for selfies and handshakes. Many attendees wore small red and white Canadian flags pinned to their shirts, a visual display of patriotic sentiment that didn’t go unnoticed by the Prime Minister.
“I like the red,” Carney remarked with characteristic warmth as he shook hands with supporters, before being presented with a bouquet of flowers by one enthusiastic supporter who explained, “It’s for you.”
“It’s for us. It’s all for Canada,” Carney replied, drawing cheers from the gathered crowd.
Rallying the Pro-Confederation Base
The Prime Minister’s next stop was a city park rally where he addressed a crowd of fewer than 100 people, many dressed in Maple Leaf red attire. Standing alongside Liberal MPs Eleanor Olszewski and Corey Hogan, Carney delivered a clear message: reject separation and vote against the nine additional questions on the ballot.
“It’s time for us to come together, stand up for ourselves and take care of each other,” Carney told the cheering crowd. “(Say) no to the nine,” he added to sustained applause.
The rally featured numerous signs and banners denouncing Premier Smith’s nine additional ballot questions, which focus on expanding provincial control over immigration and constitutional reform, including potential changes to healthcare access for newcomers and temporary workers.
University Stop Draws Enthusiastic Response
At the University of Calgary’s student hall food court, Carney was swarmed by students and young supporters waving small Canadian flags. A prominent poster reading “Just No. Vote No. Vote Remain” captured the sentiment of many attendees.
RCMP and security officials worked to manage the enthusiastic crowd as Carney posed for selfies, engaged in conversation, and autographed Canadian flags. At one point, he pointed to a smiling young woman and declared, “New Canadian,” highlighting the diverse coalition supporting the pro-Confederation message.
Outside the venue, a large crowd gathered to watch Carney’s motorcade depart. He took time to sign flags for two women and even returned their pen, joking, “Never let it be said that I stole.”
Political Stakes Escalate
Meanwhile, Premier Danielle Smith maintained a comparatively low profile but is scheduled to speak Friday in Calgary alongside federal Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre at what promises to be a high-profile conservative gathering.
Smith has positioned herself as advocating for greater provincial autonomy while still supporting continued Confederation. In a recent video announcement, she revealed she had voted to remain in Canada but urged Albertans to support her nine additional ballot questions as leverage for securing more powers from Ottawa.
These nine questions propose expanded provincial control over immigration, potential restrictions and fees for some newcomers accessing social services, and constitutional amendments aimed at wresting power from the federal government and abolishing the Senate.
While Smith frames these measures as necessary responses to what she describes as prohibitively expensive immigration costs, critics have characterised the questions as anti-immigrant dog whistles that could create barriers to essential services.
The Premier’s office did not immediately respond to requests for comment regarding Carney’s call for Albertans to reject the nine additional questions.
Medical Community Weighs In
Adding another dimension to the debate, a recent survey revealed that hundreds of doctors have indicated they would consider leaving Alberta if the province were to become an independent country, raising concerns about healthcare continuity regardless of Monday’s outcome.
Carney is scheduled to continue his campaign efforts with another rally in Edmonton on Friday, where he will join former Alberta deputy premier Thomas Lukaszuk at an event organised by Lukaszuk’s Forever Canadian group, which has been actively campaigning to keep Alberta within Confederation.
Why it Matters
This referendum represents a critical moment not just for Alberta’s future within Canada, but for the broader question of national unity. The outcome will signal whether Canadians are willing to entertain significant constitutional changes and expanded provincial autonomy, potentially reshaping the relationship between Ottawa and the provinces for generations to come. A victory for separation would trigger complex legal, economic, and diplomatic challenges that could reverberate throughout the country and internationally, while the additional ballot questions, if approved, could fundamentally alter how immigration and social services operate in Canada’s fourth-largest province.
