Carney tells Forever Canadian rally Albertans should vote to stay in Canada

Prime Minister Mark Carney attended a Forever Canadian rally in Calgary Thursday night, urging Albertans to vote Monday to keep the province in Canada and warning that failing to do so would bring "deep division and great uncertainty."

The rally drew at least 5,000 people, according to the Prime Minister's Office. Many wore red and white, hoisted hockey sticks with Canadian flags, and sported Team Canada jerseys. Carney will attend another Forever Canadian rally in Edmonton on Friday and meet with business leaders alongside Premier Danielle Smith in Red Deer.

Carney acknowledged that frustrations in Alberta are real, but framed Canada as working in the spirit of co-operative federalism. "At this pivotal moment, Albertans have a choice: to build a stronger Alberta and an even greater Canada to leave for our children or we can burden them with years of deep division and great uncertainty," he said.

He characterized a vote against Canada as a dangerous bluff that could lead to years of lost opportunities, and urged Albertans not to accept claims that the outcome is predetermined. "Don't let anyone tell you this is already decided. Turnout will determine the outcome," Carney said.

The referendum Monday asks whether Alberta should stay in Canada or hold a binding separation referendum. The ballot also includes nine other questions focused on immigration restrictions and constitutional changes—measures Premier Smith says are necessary to send Ottawa a message that provinces need more autonomy and respect. Carney has urged voters to reject those nine questions, while critics characterize them as an anti-immigrant platform.

Forever Canadian, the campaign backing a "stay in Canada" vote, was launched by Thomas Lukaszuk, the former Alberta deputy premier.