Liberals and Conservatives Unite to Urge Albertans to Vote 'No' on Separation Referendum
Ahead of Alberta's October 20 referendum, federal Liberals and Conservatives are jointly campaigning for a decisive vote to keep the province in Canada. Polling by Abacus Data shows 68% of voters support remaining, while 24% back initiating a separation process.
Albertans will head to the polls on Monday, October 20, to decide whether to remain a province in Canada or begin the legal process toward holding a binding referendum on leaving the country. In a rare display of unity, both federal Liberals and Conservatives are urging voters to decisively reject separation.
Prime Minister Mark Carney headlined a rally in Calgary calling for a decisive result to settle the question of Alberta's place in Canada. Conservative MP Dane Lloyd also campaigned for a "No" vote on the tenth question, which would initiate the legal process for a binding separation referendum. Lloyd urged patriotic Canadians and Albertans to deliver an overwhelmingly decisive vote for a stronger Alberta within a united Canada.
Polling conducted by Abacus Data from October 7 to 13 indicates that 68 per cent of voters would opt to keep Alberta a province of Canada, while 24 per cent would vote to start the legal process for a binding separation referendum. The survey polled 1,021 Alberta voters with a margin of error of approximately plus or minus 3.1 percentage points, 19 times out of 20.
Despite the strong polling lead for remaining in Canada, 61 per cent of Abacus survey respondents expect to vote again on Alberta separation after Monday's referendum. Liberal MP Corey Hogan stated that separatist sentiment is a reality in Alberta and that it is not realistic to say the issue will go to zero. Meanwhile, Conservative MP Dane Lloyd reported that roundtable discussions indicated people do not have a problem with Canada, but rather with Ottawa.
In addition to the separation question, Monday's ballot includes nine additional questions focused on immigration and constitutional reform, including whether Alberta should take more control over immigration. On these first nine questions, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith has advocated for voters to choose "Yes," while Prime Minister Mark Carney has urged Albertans to reject them.