Liberals, Conservatives urge decisive Alberta referendum vote to remain in Canada, CBC reports

Federal parties make shared appeal

In the final days of campaigning, the federal Liberals and Conservatives have both called on Albertans to support staying in Canada. Their appeals aim to settle questions about Alberta’s place in the country.

Prime Minister Mark Carney spoke at a Calgary rally on Thursday and called for a decisive result on Monday. Conservative MP Dane Lloyd said Albertans should turn out for an overwhelming vote in favour of a united Canada.

Poll finds support, lingering doubts

Abacus Data polling puts support for keeping Alberta in Canada at 68 per cent. Another 24 per cent said they would vote to begin the legal process for a binding separation referendum.

The survey also found 61 per cent expect to vote again on separation at some point after Monday. Hogan said separatist concerns have long existed in Alberta and are unlikely to disappear entirely.

Hogan said the province would need to see where matters stand on Oct. 20. He also called for a serious discussion about the conditions that brought Alberta to this point.

Ottawa and ballot questions debated

Lloyd said discussions held through the Conservatives for Canada campaign pointed to dissatisfaction with Ottawa, rather than with Canada itself. Carney, meanwhile, recalled that Alberta’s resources had once been made to feel as though they did not belong to the province.

The ballot has nine questions ahead of the 10th, which concerns a binding referendum on separation. Premier Danielle Smith has urged voters to answer yes to the first nine, while Carney has urged them to vote no.

Hogan said immigration has generally involved productive federal-provincial discussions. He argued that constructive relations do not require either side to pressure the other.