Danielle Smith dismisses Doug Ford's warning against separatist threats from Alberta

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith is urging her Ontario counterpart Doug Ford to mind his own business when it comes to talk of separating from Canada. Smith announced this week that she doesn’t want Alberta to leave Canada but, if enough residents sign a petition asking for a referendum on it, she’ll make sure it’s put to a vote in 2026.

Ford, without mentioning Smith by name, says Canadian unity is critical as the country engages in a tariff fight with the United States and now is not the time to threaten to quit the country. Asked about his comment, Smith says she has a great friendship with Ford but doesn't tell him how he should run his province.

Prime Minister Mark Carney told reporters in Washington, D.C., that Canada is always stronger when Canadians work together. In Quebec, Paul St-Pierre Plamondon, the leader of the sovereigntist Parti Québécois, says Smith is simply standing up for her province's autonomy.