N環球 
Carney makes case for Canadian unity in Thanksgiving message as Alberta vote nears
Prime Minister Mark Carney used his Thanksgiving message to urge Albertans to remain in Canada, warning the Oct. 19 vote would begin "a long and uncertain process." Recent polling puts support for separation at about 22%.
Why it matters
With one week to go before Alberta's Oct. 19 vote on its future in Canada, Prime Minister Mark Carney used the traditionally family-oriented Thanksgiving holiday to deliver the federal government's most direct message yet: vote to stay, because starting a separation process would begin "a long and uncertain process."
Full report
In his Thanksgiving message released Oct. 12, Carney said: "This year, Thanksgiving is a bit different. A week from today, Albertans will have the opportunity to make an important decision about their future, whether to remain part of Canada or begin a long and uncertain process through which Alberta could separate from Canada."
The Oct. 19 vote asks voters whether Alberta should remain in Canada or begin the process toward a future binding referendum on independence. The vote itself is non-binding but is widely seen as a litmus test for the separatist movement.
Reactions
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith, who called the vote, supports remaining in Canada. She said recent polling put support for separation at roughly 22%, a level she called "still too high for my liking."
Independence movement leader Keith Wilson urged Albertans to back a path toward a separation referendum, arguing the province needs "leverage and lasting change" in its dealings with Ottawa, and asking: "What protects us when Ottawa turns against Alberta again?"
The provincial debate is unfolding against a backdrop of strained Canada-U.S. relations, with President Donald Trump's trade war and repeated talk of making Canada the 51st U.S. state.
💬 Comments
No comments yet. Be the first!