Federal Conservatives launch campaign to keep Alberta in Canada ahead of October referendum

The Federal Conservative Party launched 'Conservatives for Canada' on Friday to mobilize Conservative voters to vote against separation in Alberta's October 19 referendum.

Albertans will vote on whether the province remains a province or begins a legal process for a binding referendum on leaving Canada. Edmonton-area MP Dane Lloyd is leading the Conservative campaign effort. "We are engaging conservative Albertans with a message, and the message is not that everything's all right," Lloyd said in an interview. "We know the status quo needs to change. But our problem is not with Canada."

Lloyd said Albertans feel their voice isn't being heard and their values are not respected by the federal government. Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre called for Albertans to stay united in a Calgary speech this summer. "We don't need a different country in Alberta, we need different government policies in Ottawa," Poilievre said on June 8.

The Liberals, under Prime Minister Mark Carney, have cancelled the consumer carbon price, signed a memorandum of understanding with Premier Danielle Smith on resource development, and referred the West Coast pipeline for approval as a project in national interest. Lloyd cited growing national pride due to a trade war with the United States as a factor that could help the remain campaign. "We need to engage that patriotism," Lloyd said.

Polls suggest the vast majority of Albertans want to remain in Canada. The campaign launches ahead of the referendum vote.