Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre is expected to argue a change in federal policies would ease separatist concerns in Alberta when he makes a speech in Calgary on Monday.
In an excerpt of that speech shared with Global News and The Canadian Press, Poilievre says separatist voices do not have an issue with their fellow Canadians, “they have a problem with the federal government.”
“We do not need a different country, Alberta. We need different government policies in Ottawa,” the speech reads.
The Conservative leader will argue in the address that Albertans could benefit from changes that prioritize unblocking resources, building pipelines, respecting provincial autonomy and relieving taxpayers.
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith said last month that her government will ask Albertans in October if they think the province should remain part of Canada or should begin the legal process for a separation referendum.
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Prime Minister Mark Carney has said the Alberta referendum on separation could be a “dangerous bluff.”
Poilievre said last month that he and his caucus will be campaigning across Alberta over the summer and encouraging people to stay in “the Canadian family.”
Sam Lilly, director of media relations for the Office of the Official Opposition, declined to provide more details on what that campaign would look like when asked Sunday. He deferred to Poilievre’s speech.
In the prepared remarks, Poilievre says the answer for Alberta is to band together with other provinces to push for federal policies that advance shared interests and support industries that cross provincial lines.
Repealing what he calls Liberal “anti-development laws” like bills C-69 and C-48 would help both Alberta and Newfoundland and Labrador, for example. Residents of Toronto as well as Albertan cities would benefit from a tougher criminal justice system, Poilievre argues.
He also calls for Alberta to “lock arms with Quebec” to regain provincial control over federal policies like immigration.
“Locking arms with other provinces is the practical, realistic path to a stronger Alberta within a united Canada,” the speech reads.
Carney said a referendum campaign isn’t helpful when Alberta is trying to woo investors for a pipeline. He pointed out that voters did not give Smith’s government a mandate to take this step.
Smith said in a televised address last month that not asking the question in a referendum would amount to “muzzling the voices of hundreds of thousands of Albertans,” something she said would be “unjustifiable” in a democracy.
A petition to trigger a referendum on Alberta separation was thrown out earlier this month by a judge, who cited the provincial government’s failure to consult Indigenous communities on the effect separation would have on their treaty rights. The Alberta government is appealing that ruling.
Carney said he plans to campaign for national unity and to show that co-operative federalism can work.
He pointed to a deal he signed with Smith earlier this month, which commits the two levels of government to working toward building a new oil pipeline to the Pacific coast, so long as industrial carbon price targets are met and carbon capture projects move ahead.
I never realized the federal courts found the Liberal government’s enactment of emergency powers during the freedom convoy illegal. God do I feel like an idiot now. Pierre was standing up for the rights of those people. I might shoot myself now. And my kids. At least the autistic one.
There is infighting in the Liberal Caucus over Carney allowing a pipeline and reducing environmental reviews. So will Alberta see a change in government policy to allow Alberta to produce the amount of oil it wants? When pigs fly.
Carney is the greatest PM Canada has ever had. We would be nothing with out him.
Notice PP thinking he speaks for separatists?
This is the same idiot that gave out coffees to clownvoyers blaring horns outside hospitals all night.
Not even a “will there be fries with that” job! Ever!
It’s too bad we have a PM who avoids Question Period even more than his predecessor, and has no solutions other than running up our record high debt. We’re to only G7 country in an official Recession state also.
I am, of course, full of sh it, espcially with regards to Alberta and the ratio of how much it contributes economically compared to what it receives. Investment in a pipeline will not get serious until the federal Liberals lift the coastal tanker ban, and Eby and his NDP morons stop being obstructive. But both of them are bent on locking in Canada’s resources and keeping Canadians in debt.
The problem is that PP, as with Albertans in general, do not actually defend the idea that they are getting the short end of the stick. And they won’t accept debate. It is taken as a ‘known fact’ without evidence.
Tanker Ban, Has ministerial exceptions, unlike the previous ‘informal ban’ that could enable specific shipping corridors.
No More pipeline bill, actually was a response to the legal requirements of the review process after the Supreme Court stuck down Gateway permitting.
Alberta constibutes not one red cent to ‘equalization’. It is all from federal income tax which is the SAME everywhere.
Major project approvals must consult with all stakeholders including other provinces. This takes time and is about the same as the US. See KXL..
PP is just adding to the noise levels, not fixing anything.
I keep telling those stupid people who want to separate too go back to their mother country and bring all the idiots with you. Leave Canada as it is. Especially that b Smith b.
I just love making up sh it. Nowhere in the story do they quote Poilievre making pro-separatism comments. Did I fool any of you? Probably not, but it was still fun to try.
I echo the comments of some others who lament that Poilievre is fomenting separatism because of his partisanship. We need leaders who stand up for Canada, not play petty partisan politics.
Poilievre is just supporting the separatists. The federal government cannot cave at every whim and demand of every Province. As Pierre Trudeau once said, the Federal Government isn’t a headwaiter to the Provinces!
The real reason P.P wants Alberta to stay in Canada.. is if Alberta separates he loses his pension and he will run out of ridings to run in.. he will go from a small useless man in a great country, to a small useless man in a garbage dump.. Remember hes still a filthy Traitor along with Smith. He would surrender us to Trump the moment he got into power.
The liberal government has to go. It’s destroying the country with left wing lunacy policies. Until some common sense comes back to politics in Canada, separation will continue to be an issue. The left has gone too far and people have had enough.
Sure a lot of Poilievre bashing considering he is not Prime Minister. People must be really scared he is going to become PM otherwise people would ignore him.
Policies like the tanker ban on the west coast but not the east coast? The greening requirements of our oil industry when no other country in the world is doing it? Giving small maritime provinces more representation than the western provinces. Making trade deals that support eastern Canada but harm western Canada? Those things need to change? They will never change with eastern Canada having the majority of the voters in Canada.
did you come here to unify canada, pierre, or did you come to foment anger and resentment towards the liberal govt of canada.
still not over your loss?
Time to find a real job pili pee. Remember what you had been telling Jag Singh?
Go away and eat an apple pp.
And stay there.
According the guy who couldn’t hold his seat and doesn’t know where he’ll hold his next one.
Carney needs a fat bullet in his skull.
@itsme I agree let’s start with the Quebecers that voted in the affirmative to separate, the entire Bloc since they are a separatist party in nature, and anyone that voted for Bill C-3
At this point, it doesn’t matter which party is in the PMO. They’ll all use our money to buy eastern votes. Regarding the “deal” Carney signed with Smith, he’s already flip-flopping on it.
We need to have stronger Federal laws in place to deal with sedition, and treason.
Separatists are at 10% now and dropping like a ton of whale zhit.
Good use of our taxes Danielle you stooge.
Oh Look! Tony “Fuda” the Putin troll is here trying to help a zhitty leader (PP)
@ Down: bwahahahahahahaa!!!!
Who Is Poilevre?
He the buffoon that blew a 28 point lead?
How many politicians in Canada have done that?
Just PP?
So, I suppose there isn’t much Poilievre can do if Carney is running away from accountability. Can’t hold him to it while he’s in the air, running to yet another fictitious meeting.
If he’s not showing his face in the House to do his duty and debate these issues, he should be bounced out. The entire Liberal Regime should then be held accountable and non confidence vote held whether that little coward is here or not.
@Ben. Sure. Some Albertans want to separate because of Carney and Trudeau.
We’re the only G20 in recession. Thanks Carney!
Don’t you guys love how I just make sh it up?? I should become a Liberal politician.
Poilievre, of course, bashes Canada and supports the separatists. Unfit to be PM.
More ideas Elbows Up Carney will take and pretend they are his own.
Just like at the jobsite…if a labourer leaves it don’t matter.
Sorry Canada, but Alberta has been trying to change you from within for decades with very little effect. Canadians ARE to blame for Albertans discontent. They consistently vote for governments whose model for success is to steal from Albertans and give to their constituents. Canadians steal my children’s future for their own gain. I know I am fed up.
Carney has no ideas of his own. All his ideas he brought forward were from the 2025 CPC Election Platform. Carney is absolutely useless.
Carney hiding now that Canada is in a recession. You can tell the lack of any results is bothering him with his pithy comments to reporters. No more Elbows Up
Last few weeks for Carney has been a bust. Nothing accomplished. He promised the best economy in the G7 instead Canada has the worst in the G20. Total failure so far.
@ try this: The Liberals are praying dumb azz PP never goes away.
PP is too stupid to find a real job so he became a whining useless politician
Carney still does not get it. It is the carbon tax that he promised to get rid of, that he is making the priority. His priority should have been the pipelines. Why should Alberta need to enforce carbon capture (which the oil companies are doing anyway as part of their pr) and carbon pricing in order to get Carney to do the pipelines he promised.
Dan… Pierre is back sitting in the House of Commons as the Leader of the opposition. He is not going away.
Yep. The clock is ticking and Carney has done absolutely nothing to reconcile for the decades of abuse…
PP letting us know what both of his followers want.
Pp lost his seat.
Go away now
Phuck off PP drinkers.
This man is incredibly stupid. He wants the government to enact all the Conservative ideas. Does he not realize he’s in opposition?
Division is the only thing keeping the LPC in power though
Never will happen Carney lies!👍👍🇹🇷