Carney urges Albertans to reject nine referendum questions on citizenship, immigration and the Constitution
At a Calgary rally of 5,000, the Prime Minister warned that forces outside Canada want to break the country apart. Premier Danielle Smith answered within hours with a slogan of her own: yes to the rest.
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Article by Rebel News staff.
Tonight on The Ezra Levant Show: Prime Minister Mark Carney's two-day campaign in Alberta against questions Albertans drafted themselves, capped by a warning that people beyond Canada's borders are working to break the country, offers the clearest evidence yet that Ottawa pays attention only to the provinces it fears.
Albertans vote Monday, Oct. 19, on 10 referendum questions. This week the Prime Minister, the Opposition leader and three former Premiers all made their case, and 5,000 people filled the BMO Centre in Calgary. On Thursday morning in Bridgeland, Carney urged voters to say "No to the Nine."
Separation is question 10, yet Carney aimed his campaign at the nine before it, drafted through the Alberta Next panel and town halls across the province. They ask about proof of citizenship to vote in provincial elections, reserving provincially funded programs for citizens, permanent residents and people with an Alberta-approved status, a 12-month wait and reasonable fee for temporary residents, and more provincial control over immigration.
Asked why he opposed them, Carney said: "We've taken control on immigration." The yes side argues that if the problem is solved, question one costs Ottawa nothing, and his opposition suggests either that the problem persists or that Albertans are not to be permitted to say so.
The other four questions would let provinces choose their own superior court judges, abolish the Senate, allow provinces to opt out of federal programs in their jurisdiction without losing the funding, and give provincial laws priority where jurisdiction is shared, each through the amending process the Constitution already sets out. Carney opposes all four.
In Calgary he left the questions unmentioned. "Some outside our borders are working to break us so they can own us," he said. "This is not poker. A vote against Canada is a dangerous bluff."
Quebec's two referendums, in 1980 and 1995, suggest otherwise: Ottawa spent 40 years and billions of dollars making sure a third never happened, which looks more like leverage earned than a bluff called. Carney also mocked the American ambassador for worrying about foreign interference in the U.S. midterms, while casting Alberta's vote as foreign interference.
Premier Danielle Smith answered within hours with "yes to the rest." Angus Reid polling on the questions as written found 62 per cent support for immigration control and 64 per cent for putting citizens and permanent residents first, while separation trails roughly 70 per cent to 22 per cent. Against the nine stand three former Premiers, Pierre Poilievre, Jason Kenney, a $4-million provincial ad campaign and an organized no campaign.
Supporters say the referendum has already delivered: a Prime Minister spending two days asking Albertans for votes, and a pipeline to the coast suddenly moving quickly. They are urging voters to read the questions, give Smith a mandate, and recognize that Alberta holds Ottawa's attention for the first time in a generation.
COMMENTS
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Bruce Atchison commented 2026-10-16 20:56:05 -0400 FlagGood point, Ezra. Let’s use our leverage like Quebec did. Furthermore, lets encourage separation among undecided folks. My senior folks are beyond hope. They believe the TV.
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Bernhard Jatzeck commented 2026-10-16 20:08:37 -0400 FlagJust who is Danielle Smith working for? It certainly doesn’t seem to be for Alberta. Her wishy-washiness reminds me of David “If Brexit goes through, I’ll quit” Cameron. Brexit was approved and that wimp upped and left, and look at the U. K. now.
