Alberta Independence | “We don’t need another country,” says Pierre Poilievre

(Ottawa) The leader of the Conservative Party of Canada, Pierre Poilievre, is expected to argue Monday, during a speech in Calgary, that a change in federal policies would ease the concerns of separatists in Alberta.

In an excerpt from this speech sent to The Canadian Press, Mr. Poilievre affirms that the separatists have nothing against their fellow Canadian citizens. “They have more of a problem with the federal government,” he said.

“We don’t need another country, Alberta. We need different government policies in Ottawa,” the speech reads.

The Conservative leader will argue in his speech that Albertans could benefit from changes that favor the development of resources, the construction of pipelines, respect for provincial autonomy and reduction of the tax burden on taxpayers.

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith said last month that her government would ask Albertans in October whether they believe the province should remain part of Canada or whether to begin the legal process for a referendum on separation.

Premier Mark Carney says Alberta’s referendum on separation could be a “dangerous bluff.”

Mr. Poilievre reported last month that he and his caucus would campaign across Alberta this summer and encourage people to remain part of “the Canadian family.”

Sam Lilly, director of media relations at the official opposition office, declined to provide further details on what form the campaign would take when asked on Sunday. He referred to Mr. Poilievre’s speech.

In his prepared speech, Poilievre says the solution for Alberta is to unite with other provinces to push for federal policies that serve common interests and support industries that cross provincial borders.

Repealing what he calls Liberal “anti-development laws,” like Bills C-69 and C-48, would help both Alberta and Newfoundland and Labrador, for example. Residents of Toronto and those in Alberta cities would benefit from a tougher criminal justice system, Poilievre argues.

He also calls on Alberta to “ally with Quebec” to regain provincial control over federal policies, such as immigration.

“Allying with other provinces is the practical and realistic path to a stronger Alberta within a united Canada,” the speech states.

Mr. Carney said a referendum campaign was not helpful as Alberta tries to attract investors for a pipeline. He stressed that voters had not given M’s government^me Smith mandated him to take this action.

M^me Smith said in a televised address last month that not asking the question in a referendum would be “muzzling the voices of hundreds of thousands of Albertans,” which she said would be “unjustifiable” in a democracy.

A petition to call a referendum on Alberta’s separation was rejected earlier this month by a judge, who cited the provincial government’s failure to consult with Indigenous communities about how separation would impact their treaty rights. The Alberta government is appealing this decision.

Mr. Carney said he planned to campaign for the unity of the country and show that cooperative federalism can work.

He spoke of an agreement he signed with M^me Smith earlier this month, which committed both levels of government to working toward building a new pipeline to the Pacific coast, provided carbon pricing targets for the industry are met and carbon capture projects move forward.

With information from Sarah Ritchie, The Canadian Press