Prime Minister Mark Carney told a large rally in Calgary on Thursday that outside forces are trying to break Canada apart in order to control it, as he urged Albertans to reject moving toward separation in the province’s upcoming referendum.
The vote is not a direct referendum on Alberta independence. Instead, Albertans will decide whether the province should remain part of Canada or whether the government should begin the legal process toward a future referendum on separation, according to the Associated Press.
“This referendum comes at the worst possible time,” Carney told the Calgary crowd, per the AP. “The world has become more dangerous and divided. Some outside our borders are working to break us so they can own us.”
Carney did not name the United States or President Donald Trump directly in those remarks, though he has referenced both in similar speeches before, and the implication was widely understood.
His comments come amid an ongoing trade dispute with Washington and after repeated suggestions from Trump that Canada become the 51st U.S. state. Trump has also described Canada as one of the most difficult countries to deal with on trade.
Carney has repeatedly argued that Canada must build greater economic resilience and reduce its dependence on the United States as the country’s own economy struggles. Canada shed 110,000 jobs over the past two monthly jobs reports, and unemployment has climbed to 6.5 percent.
At the rally, Carney pushed back against the idea that Albertans could use the referendum simply to register discontent with Ottawa without real consequence.
“Don’t be fooled by the idea you can ‘send a message’ with your vote,” Carney said. “This is not poker. A vote against Canada is a dangerous bluff that will lead to years of deep division and great uncertainty.”
Carney, who had never held elected office before being selected by his predecessor Justin Trudeau to become prime minister, has previously said he intends to reshape Canada’s relationship with the United States, declaring “there will be no turning back” on efforts to “dramatically reduce our reliance on the United States.”
