TORONTO (AP) — Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney drew comparisons Monday between an upcoming Alberta independence vote and Britain’s Brexit decision, describing the provincial referendum as a potentially “dangerous bluff.”
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith announced last week that residents will vote October 19th on whether the oil-rich province should remain part of Canada or pursue constitutional measures toward holding a binding separation referendum.
Drawing from his Brexit experience as Bank of England governor in 2016, Carney helped steer the central bank through Britain’s European Union departure process.
“I saw firsthand what happened in the United Kingdom when the view was, ‘Vote for this, it’ll be soft and then we’ll negotiate, etc.,’ Carney said. “They’re still 10 years later trying to undo what people didn’t think they were voting for, but what they ended up having.”
The referendum proposal wasn’t part of Smith’s party platform during their most recent provincial election campaign.
Carney expressed concern that the vote undermines his efforts to bring investment into Canada, questioning its democratic legitimacy.
“Is it the democratic will of Albertans? Did they vote for this in the last provincial election? No, they didn’t. It wasn’t on the ballot paper,” Carney said.
Smith has publicly stated her preference for Alberta to stay within Canada. Observers have noted similarities between her position and former British Prime Minister David Cameron’s approach to Brexit — using the referendum to manage internal party divisions while personally opposing separation.
Carney is currently working to develop a new oil pipeline connecting Alberta to Canada’s Pacific coastline. Alberta residents have historically criticized Ottawa for insufficient efforts to connect the province’s substantial oil resources with Asian markets.
“We have to be very careful about this. There’s a very strong positive case for Canada, a strong Alberta in a united Canada,” Carney said. “I look forward to making that case with many, many other Albertans and Canadians over the course of the next 150 days.”
In response to Carney’s Monday remarks, Smith maintained that separation decisions belong exclusively to Alberta residents.
“Albertans’ frustrations have been fueled by the last 10 years of disastrous policies from Ottawa under … Justin Trudeau,” Smith said in a statement from her office, referencing the previous prime minister.
“I would also remind all Canadians that we should not dismiss the legitimate grievances of Albertans. Instead, we should focus on addressing these issues, restoring hope in Canada, and demonstrating that our country can work and is working.”
