Poilievre says Conservatives would campaign against Alberta separation referendum

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre says he and all Conservative MPs would campaign to keep Alberta in Canada if a referendum on separation is held in the province.

Poilievre said the party would take the same position in Quebec if a Parti Québécois government were elected and moved ahead with a sovereignty referendum there.

The comments come as Alberta Premier Danielle Smith is expected to deliver a televised address later today. Her United Conservative government is considering whether to include a question related to Alberta’s future within Canada in a series of referendums planned for October.

Poilievre blamed Prime Minister Mark Carney’s policies for growing separatist sentiment in Alberta. He said the federal government should advance natural resource development projects and cancel the federal gun buyback program to reduce tensions in the province.

Alberta’s government has not confirmed whether a separation-related question will appear on the October referendum ballot. More details are expected following Smith’s address.

The debate comes amid broader political tensions over federal energy policy, provincial autonomy and economic development in Western Canada. Decisions made by Alberta’s government in the coming months could shape the direction of the discussion nationally.