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Conservative Party leader Pierre Poilievre traveled to Edmonton on Tuesday to make a direct appeal to Albertans, urging them to vote in favor of remaining within Canada. With fewer than three weeks left before the Alberta referendum on separation, Poilievre delivered his message to a crowd of supporters at a downtown hotel, waving Canadian flags and holding “Conservatives for Canada” signs.
Poilievre Separates Frustration from Separatism
Poilievre, who was born in Alberta, argued that separatists are angry at the federal Liberal government — not at Canada itself. He acknowledged that many Albertans feel genuinely frustrated. However, he insisted that frustration should not translate into leaving the country.
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“Many Albertans are legitimately frustrated that a costly and controlling, big and bossy government has gone far beyond its jurisdictional boundaries,” he told the crowd. He pointed to Liberal policies that he said have left Canadians struggling with rising costs at gas pumps, grocery stores and in the housing market.
“Our businesses and workers are frustrated that our oil and gas is left in the ground and our opportunities are left there with it,” Poilievre said. Despite that frustration, he maintained that separation is not the answer. “Separation will not solve those problems. Becoming even more Canadian will,” he added. Instead, he called on Albertans to keep fighting from within, including by pushing Ottawa to unlock the full potential of Alberta’s oil and gas sector.
The Referendum and Its Political Context
Premier Danielle Smith’s United Conservative Party government scheduled a 10-question referendum for October 19. The final question asks Albertans whether they want to remain in Canada or hold a second, binding referendum on leaving the country.
Smith has said she personally supports Alberta staying in Canada and plans to vote accordingly. At the same time, she noted that hundreds of thousands of people have signed petitions both for and against separation. She described the referendum as a way to settle the issue once and for all.
Critics, however, have taken a different view. They point to long-standing opinion polls showing overwhelming support for Alberta remaining in Canada. As a result, some have accused Smith of calling the vote primarily to satisfy separatist hardliners within her own party.
Conservatives for Canada Campaign Gains Momentum
Earlier on Tuesday, Poilievre attended a fundraiser for Conservatives for Canada. The group brings together federal politicians who are actively making the case for Alberta to stay in Confederation.
Poilievre appointed Dane Lloyd, a Member of Parliament representing an Alberta riding, to lead the campaign effort. That evening, Lloyd recognized the Conservative MPs in the room who have campaigned on the federalist side of the separation debate.
“Conservatives are patriots,” Lloyd said. “We love our country. We love our home province of Alberta.” The event reflected a broader push by federal Conservatives to engage directly with Alberta voters ahead of the October vote.
Poilievre’s Edmonton appearance is part of a series of speeches he has delivered or plans to deliver across the province. His core message remains consistent: Alberta is stronger as part of a united Canada, and the path forward lies in reforming federal policy — not in pursuing independence.
