Carney urges Alberta to stay in Canada before Oct. 19 vote

Prime Minister Mark Carney used his Thanksgiving message on October 12 to urge Albertans to remain part of Canada, one week before a provincial vote on whether to proceed toward a separation referendum. He argued that division would make it harder to deliver major projects and said the country is stronger together. Albertans are scheduled to vote on October 19. The ballot’s central question is whether the province should remain in Canada or begin a process to hold a referendum on separation. One report described the later referendum as binding. Another account said the October ballot contains 10 questions, including matters beyond separation; the supplied reports do not establish the full ballot wording. Carney said Alberta could pursue major projects within Canada, citing new housing, high-speed rail and a proposed pipeline to the West Coast. He said the pipeline could help open markets for Alberta oil beyond the United States. His message linked the projects to national unity, warning that Canada could not achieve its goals if divided and describing threats to the economy, security and way of life. The message was delivered in a recorded Thanksgiving greeting released Monday.