Carney Emphasizes National Unity as Alberta Considers Separation Referendum if Support Threshold Reached

(Left) Alberta Premier Danielle Smith delivers a speech at an event in Ottawa on April 12, 2024. (Right) Canadian Prime Minister and Liberal Leader Mark Carney speaks at the Liberal Party election night headquarters in Ottawa on April 29, 2025. The Canadian Press/Spencer Colby; Reuters/Blair Gable

Prime Minister Mark Carney underscored the importance of national unity after Alberta Premier Danielle Smith said she would uphold the democratic process if a separation question in the province gains enough support to trigger a referendum.

“Canada is stronger when we work together,” Carney told reporters in French on May 6, following his first meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House. “I am Albertan. I proudly believe in Canada. So one can ask the question, but for me the answer is clear.”

On May 5, Smith delivered a livestream address regarding Alberta’s next steps following the election, saying the return of the federal Liberals, who she previously said have “overtly attacked our provincial economy almost unabated for the past 10 years,” has left many Albertans “deeply frustrated.”

Those steps will include a provincial referendum next year, where Albertans will vote on ideas to “protect” the province from Ottawa. The plan also involves creating a negotiating team to represent Alberta in talks with the federal government, as well as establishing an expert panel to explore ways to assert the province’s sovereignty.

Smith added that if a citizen-led petition meets the requirements for qualifying as a referendum question, she would allow its inclusion as one of the issues to go to vote in 2026.

During a media availability on May 6, Smith reiterated that while she does not support Alberta separatism herself, the main goal of the initiative is to have Albertans express their views.

“Citizens have a right to express their opinion on things that they’re concerned about, and I think it’s my job to make sure that debate is respectful,” she said, adding that no Albertan should be “demonized” for their opinions.

“That’s what I’m trying to do, is to create an environment where the conversation can be had.”

When asked whether the timing of her announcement—which came a day before Carney was scheduled to meet with Trump—could weaken Carney’s position amid trade tensions, the premier said her timing was unrelated to Carney’s itinerary.

“I think that Prime Minister Carney has his work cut out for him, as we saw in the opening press conference with the president,” Smith said.

“I’m really hopeful that behind closed doors, they'll be able to have a meeting of the minds and come out with an agreement to restart the Canada–U.S. free-trade agreement negotiations.”

She said her announcement was planned to come after the federal election and after her meetings with both her caucus and Carney. The premier and the prime minister had their first meeting on May 2, with Smith calling it a “positive first step.”

Ontario Premier Doug Ford, in an apparent reference to Alberta’s potential separation referendum, said Canada must stay united to confront U.S. tariffs. However, he did not specifically mention Alberta or Smith.

“This is a time to unite the country, not people saying ‘Oh I’m leaving the country,’ or ‘I’m doing this, I am doing that,’” Ford said during an unrelated May 6 address in Toronto. “United we stand, divided we fall. And we have to be a united Canada together to fight President Trump’s tariff.”

In response, Smith said she has a “great friendship” with Ford and “we just have different issues that we have to respond to in our respective jurisdictions.”

“I don’t tell him how he should run his province, and I would hope that he doesn’t tell me how I should run mine,” she said. “But we have a very respectful relationship and I hope that continues.”

On the same day, the leader of the Quebec sovereigntist Parti Québécois expressed support for Smith’s decision to allow a separation referendum if the requirements are met.

“This is a premier who has decided to address the government of Canada directly by saying, ‘If you do not respect our democracy, you do not respect our financial choices and our priorities. I will respond to your abuse of power with concrete actions,'” he said.

Meanwhile, the Alberta Opposition NDP has argued that Smith is “dividing our country and picking fights in a moment that calls for national unity.”

“Being a proud Albertan means being a proud Canadian, and we will NOT let Danielle Smith take that away from us,” Alberta NDP Leader Naheed Nenshi said in a May 6 social media post.

Smith said she is “hopeful” about having constructive conversations with Carney, adding that he knows her concerns and did not raise any objections during their first meeting.

“I personally still have hope that there is a path forward for a strong and sovereign Alberta within a united Canada, so I am going to do everything within my power to negotiate a fair deal for Alberta with the new prime minister,” Smith said on May 6.

The Canadian Press contributed to this report.