OTTAWA — Opposition leader Pierre Poilievre delivered an 18-minute address before the Canada Strong and Free Network conference in Calgary on Friday, arguing that Alberta and the broader country stand to benefit from remaining within the federation, while cautioning attendees that separation represents an easier path rather than a constructive one.
Poilievre told the crowd that Albertans were not the kind of people to walk away from a fight, as the province prepares for a Monday vote on whether to put separation from Canada to a binding referendum.
On Friday, both Poilievre and Prime Minister Mark Carney travelled through Alberta, where each voiced broadly aligned positions on the need to preserve national unity. The Parti Québécois election result in Quebec's provincial contest drew attention from those who favour the province's independence, with some viewing it as an encouraging development for that cause.
Carney travelled first to Calgary on Thursday to address a rally organised under the Forever Canadian banner in support of union workers, then spent Friday afternoon in Red Deer before heading to Edmonton that evening for a second gathering tied to the same campaign.
Poilievre did not acknowledge Carney or Alberta Premier Danielle Smith when he took the podium Friday. His remarks turned toward a call for unity and the renewal of a country that generations of Canadians had worked to build and protect.
Poilievre characterised those drawn to separation as people who still hold affection for their country, calling them "frustrated patriots," and attributed their discontent to federal policies he said have driven up the cost of housing and food, left natural resources undeveloped, allowed immigration to grow beyond manageable levels, and produced a justice system that he argued does not adequately detain those convicted of violent offences.
He quoted himself as saying "Canada is more than a government — it is a people, a flag, a land, a history and a promise," before calling on Albertans to stand alongside Canadians elsewhere who share their concerns. He pointed to Quebecers seeking greater provincial authority, Newfoundlanders wanting expanded oil and gas output, Ontario police unions pressing for stricter sentencing, and British Columbians advocating for LNG terminal development, closing with a direct appeal: "don't leave your fellow Canadians behind — lock arms with them." He also directed a call at younger Canadians pursuing housing, employment, and opportunity from coast to coast.
His message called on Canadians to unite behind policies aimed at protecting employment, reducing costs, tightening border intake, and prioritising national interests, urging solidarity around the goal of a Canada that remains affordable, independent, and safe for its residents.
