Poilievre urges Alberta to stay in Canada ahead of October referendum

Federal Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre told an Edmonton audience Tuesday night that he backs a united Canada, less than three weeks before Albertans vote in an Oct. 19 referendum that includes a question on whether the province should stay in Canada or move toward a binding independence vote.

Speaking to more than 100 people at a downtown hotel under Alberta and Canadian flags, Mr. Poilievre framed the event as part of the Conservatives for Canada campaign. The Calgary-raised leader said conversations with Alberta separatists convinced him their anger targets Liberal government policy — gun buybacks, living costs and constraints on oil and gas — rather than the country itself.

“Many Albertans are legitimately frustrated that a costly and controlling, big and bossy government has gone far beyond its jurisdictional boundaries in Ottawa,” he said, arguing separation would not fix those problems. Confederation, he said, married western resources with eastern manufacturing and local provincial autonomy with pan-Canadian defence and trade.

Alberta Conservative MPs including Kelly McCauley, Mike Lake, Laila Goodridge and Dane Lloyd joined the room; Mr. Lloyd, caucus lead on the stay-in-Canada effort, said the party is “fighting for a stronger Alberta in a united Canada.” Mr. Poilievre closed by asking young Albertans and Quebecers to “double down on the Canadian promise” as the province prepares to answer 10 referendum questions on Oct. 19.

Sources: With less than 3 weeks before Alberta's referendum, Poilievre makes case for Canadian unity in Edmonton — CBC News: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/poilievre-canadian-unity-alberta-referendum-9.7363663 | ‘Separation will not solve problems’: Poilievre speaks in Alberta ahead of the referendum — Canada's National Observer: https://www.nationalobserver.com/2026/09/30/news/separation-will-not-solve-problems-poilievre-speaks-alberta-ahead-referendum | Poilievre in Edmonton: Urges Albertans to become 'even more Canadian' — Edmonton Journal: https://edmontonjournal.com/news/poilievre-in-edmonton-urges-albertans-to-become-even-more-canadian