Carney says Canada is 'worth fighting for' one week from Alberta independence vote

It comes as those campaigning for both the independence and federalist sides enter their final push, with numerous rallies and events planned across Alberta ahead of the Oct. 19 vote. Advance voting starts Tuesday.

“A week from today, Albertans will have the opportunity to make an important decision about their future,” he says in the video.

“Whether to remain part of Canada or begin a long and uncertain process through which Alberta could separate from Canada.”

Carney says he has some “perspectives” on the matter, pointing to the fact that he was raised in Edmonton and educated “right here” at St. Francis Xavier high school in the city, indicating the classroom he sits in.

Carney says lately, he has returned “home” often to the province, given the projects and announcements his federal Liberal government has made.

He specifically mentions “a new pipeline to the West Coast that will create lasting opportunity and prosperity for hundreds of thousands of people in this province and across the country.”

He goes on to say that “Canada is working,” but cautions that such progress can be undone should the country find itself split.

“The truth is, we can’t achieve any of this if we’re divided. You can’t build big things on fault lines,” Carney says. “And we should recognize that the world has changed. Canada is facing real threats to our economy, our security and our way of life.”

“Generations of Albertans helped build this country. It’s yours. It’s ours, and it’s worth fighting for.”

Monday’s video represents the latest comments Carney has made about the referendum.

He has previously characterized the vote as a “dangerous bluff,” and referred to his experience serving as Bank of England governor during Brexit, an event that Carney warned led to years of economic and political uncertainty.

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith has defended her decision to add an independence question to a set of existing referendum questions on constitutional and immigration reforms by saying thousands of Albertans signed their names to petitions on the issue over the past year.

Specifically, she added in the independence question after a court ruling quashed a petition that had been organized by separatist leaders in the province.

Albertans are now being asked to pick between two options: Either to remain a province of Canada, or to begin the legal process necessary to hold a future binding referendum on leaving.

Successive public opinion polls suggest support for separation is a minority opinion in the province. But independence leaders have been urging those frustrated by the province’s treatment from Ottawa as a way to cast a vote against the status quo.

Federalists have been urging those wanting to remain a part of Canada to turn out to the polls. Political heavyweights including former Conservative prime minister Stephen Harper and former Alberta premiers Jason Kenney and Rachel Notley have warned that a vote for independence will send a bad signal to investors.

Advance voting will run from Tuesday though Saturday. As of last week, Elections Alberta said it had verified more than 221,000 mail-in ballots, a record number reported by the provincial agency since Smith’s United Conservative Party government relaxed the rules around accessing them.