On Saturday, Alberta's NDP gathered supporters at a rally opposing separation, with party leader Naheed Nenshi voicing uncertainty about the forthcoming referendum's result. Set for October 19, the plebiscite will present Albertans with two choices — continuing as part of Canada or moving toward a binding separation referendum — along with nine further questions, with Nenshi characterising the vote as one of the weightiest decisions residents would encounter in their lives.

Nenshi described the referendum as a political distraction from the governing party's record on affordability, unemployment, healthcare, and education, while also alleging that Premier Smith had accommodated separatist and fringe voices and was underestimating Albertans' awareness of her motivations. Smith's office had not responded to a request for comment by publication time, though she had previously indicated she would vote to remain in Canada and framed the referendum as an opportunity for all Albertans to have their say, providing the government with a clearer direction on the issue.

Nenshi raised concerns that, while polling data placed those favouring separation at between 17 and 20 per cent, a low turnout could give that group an outsized influence on any referendum outcome, adding that he anticipated every person holding that view would cast a ballot, whereas those who support remaining in Canada might stay home precisely because the polling numbers appeared to favour them.

Nenshi raised questions about whether the referendum's outcome would reflect public opinion, pointing to voter participation rates of 39 per cent in Calgary's last municipal election and approximately 20 per cent in Red Deer and Lethbridge's most recent contests, and noting that if separatist support of 17 to 20 per cent in polling held while overall turnout hovered near 30 per cent, the results may not accurately represent the broader population. NDP door-knockers also reported that fewer than half of residents they spoke with had heard of the referendum and just one in ten knew the ballot contained nine additional questions.

Hundreds of attendees dressed in red and carrying Canadian flags gathered at the rally, among them Denise Vaile, a lifelong Albertan and Canadian, who expressed her support for the country and noted her longstanding appreciation for Nenshi's remarks and public presence.

Miriam Meir, who has partial Indigenous heritage, noted that for her the matter centres on respect for Indigenous communities and the treaties established before Alberta achieved provincial status, adding that she fully supports Indigenous leaders in their efforts to defend their lands. Former MLA Harry Chase described the notion of separation as unworkable, arguing that Alberta could not function independently given its financial constraints, trade dependencies, and landlocked geography. Nenshi observed that nearly every previous Alberta premier had used anti-Ottawa sentiment as a political tool while simultaneously rejecting separatist calls outright, and that polling data indicated the population was already divided into those firmly committed to Canada and a smaller group firmly committed to separation, with little room between them.

Nenshi had previously expressed the expectation that those backing independence would cast their ballots in full.