Prime Minister Carney returns to Edmonton for Canada Day address on unity
The PM, who grew up in Edmonton, used the national holiday to emphasize togetherness as Albertans prepare for an October separation referendum.
The day's top stories, food & events — every morning at 7. Unsubscribe anytime.
Prime Minister Mark Carney spent Canada Day in Edmonton, where he grew up and attended St. Francis Xavier Catholic High School, to deliver a message about national unity.
On Wednesday, Carney issued a statement saying "we are stronger when we are united," a clear rallying cry as Albertans prepare to vote in an October 19 referendum on whether the province should hold a separation referendum.
"Canadians have never just imagined a stronger, more united country. We've picked up our tools and built one," Carney said. "At this decisive moment, we are choosing to build big once again – with Canadian workers, Canadian materials, and Canadian values."
The choice of Edmonton for the bulk of his Canada Day activities signals the federal government's focus on the province during this period of political tension. Carney emphasized that unity is not uniformity and that the country's differences should be seen as strengths, not risks to manage.
"There will always be forces that want to divide us," he said. "They forget this country's founding insight: that unity is not uniformity, that our differences are strengths to nurture rather than risks to manage, and that our values serve as an unshakeable foundation."
