Forever Canadian campaign launched in Edmonton ahead of Oct 19 referendum

Hundreds of people gathered in Edmonton on Saturday to mark the launch of a campaign aimed at preventing Alberta from leaving Canada, as a provincewide referendum on the question looms in October. Thomas Lukaszuk, Alberta’s former deputy premier, unveiled the “Forever Canadian” campaign, which will send him and hundreds of volunteers across the province in a “Unity Bus” to encourage Albertans to vote to remain in Confederation.

Lukaszuk said the campaign will involve door knocking, lawn signs featuring the Canadian flag, and distributing fact checked information on the importance of voter turnout and how to register for the referendum. “This is definitely the most important vote in the history of this province,” he told the crowd outside the campaign’s new headquarters in northwest Edmonton. “This country cannot be broken up by anybody.”

Premier Danielle Smith announced in a televised address on Thursday that the Oct. 19 referendum question will ask Albertans whether they want to remain in Canada or begin the process toward a binding vote on separation. Smith has said she could not directly put separation on the ballot because a judge earlier this month quashed a separatist...