PM Carney makes final pitch for Canadian unity ahead of Alberta referendum

Prime Minister Mark Carney pushed a message of Canadian unity for a hometown crowd of over five thousand people Friday night, while encouraging people to vote for Alberta to remain in Canada in Monday’s referendum.

At the Edmonton Expo Centre, Carney boasted of the benefits Canada provides for the province and warned of the risks Alberta’s separation could pose during a time when the world is becoming more dangerous and divided.

“There are some outside our borders working to break us, so they can own us,” Carney said.

He also warned people not to think any outcome was assured, and urged people to vote and bring others out to do the same.

The rally comes days before a historic vote for the province, as Albertans will have their say on five questions related to immigration, four questions related to constitutional changes and one on separation.

Carney has been touring the province ahead of the vote, making stops across Calgary, Red Deer and Edmonton.

He was met with a wall of applause and stomping feet when he walked on-stage to the Sam Roberts Band’s “We’re all in This Together.”

He told the crowd what he thought of the welcome, saying, “I was at an event in Calgary, and it was fantastic. But this is Edmonton. This is the city of champions.”

Repeating the sentiment he delivered to Calgary Thursday night, he said he believed this to be the worst time for a referendum, and that it would be foolish to gamble with the province’s future, “just to send a message.”

Still, his speech was loaded with regional references, like his childhood skating rink in Laurier Heights, Boyle Street Community Services, and the Edmonton Oilers.

In his bid for Albertans to vote to remain in Canada, Carney didn’t shy away from the energy topic and Alberta’s past grievances with the federal government.

“The frustrations that many Albertans have felt are real,” Carney said. “Growing up, I remember how Ottawa made Albertans feel like our resources weren’t our own, and more recently, we were made to feel that our energy contributions were running against the tides of history.”

“Canada isn’t perfect. But we are the best.”

“And we are getting better,” he added, saying that Alberta is at the centre of his government’s nation-building plans.

He touted plans to spend more on local infrastructure, and how the Pacific Link pipeline became the first item for his major projects office. He said Alberta will help unlock Canada’s full “energy potential” and reduce the country’s dependence on the U.S.

Those sentiments around energy issues were shared by some in the audience.

John Buie said he spent much of his career in the oil industry, working in Fort McMurray. While he’s fully in support of staying in Canada, he said he understands some of the anger Albertans feel.

“You had Trudeau senior, and there was a lot of anger, and rightfully so,” John said, alluding to Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau’s national energy program and the rage it fueled in the oil industry.

“I understand some of the sentiment about how Alberta is being treated. But separation’s not the answer,” John said.

While Carney headlined the rally, Forever Canadian leader Thomas Lukaszuk, retired CBC radio host Mark Connolly, and hockey legend Kevin Lowe all added words of support for Canadian unity. Former Premier Rachel Notley also sent a recorded video message.

Lukaszuk told the crowd that they were making history.

“Fifty to 150 years from now, our children and our grandchildren will be studying about this in their social studies classes,” he said.

Mayor Andrew Knack asked the crowd to also consider the nine other questions, including those on immigration. He argued those questions were meant to divide Albertans, and referenced the city’s famous Heritage Festival as an example of strong diversity in Edmonton.

He also said that the referendum removes focus from “real priorities” that the province should be addressing.

“I believe Edmontonians would rather see Premier Smith spend their money on new schools,” Knack said. “Or maybe a new hospital.”

The audience responded to Knack, chanting “no to nine.”

Saturday marks the last day people can vote in the advance polls ahead of referendum day. Elections Alberta is expecting a strong turnout, estimating between 80 and 85 percent of registered voters will cast a vote.

As of Friday night, more than one million Albertans had cast votes. Voting stations open at 9 a.m. Monday and close at 8 p.m.

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