Banff (Rajeev Sharma): Prime Minister Mark Carney met supporters of the Forever Canadian campaign in Banff on Friday, offering a brief but symbolic show of support for national unity as Alberta prepares for a referendum linked to the province’s separatist movement.
Carney encountered volunteers from the group at the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity, where the federal cabinet was concluding its retreat. Around 50 campaign supporters gathered to welcome the prime minister, many carrying red-and-white signs and wearing maple leaf symbols.
During the interaction, Carney signed the campaign’s bright pink recreational vehicle, which is being used to travel across Alberta as part of its outreach efforts. He wrote the message, “Canada is everyone and for everyone,” on the vehicle before the gathering joined in singing O Canada.
Thomas Lukaszuk, a former Alberta deputy premier who heads the Forever Canadian group, described Carney as a reassuring figure for Albertans. He said the prime minister’s approach, particularly during trade discussions with the United States, has demonstrated that the federal government is prepared to defend Canadian interests.
The meeting comes ahead of Alberta’s Oct. 19 referendum, which will ask voters whether the province should hold a second referendum on leaving Canada.
Carney has repeatedly spoken in favour of Canadian unity, although he has so far stopped short of making an extensive personal campaign across Alberta urging residents to reject separatism.
Speaking to reporters Thursday, the prime minister said his priority was to advance his economic agenda for both Alberta and the country while strengthening what he described as co-operative federalism. He also urged Albertans to participate in the upcoming vote through polling day, early voting or mail-in ballots.
“Canada is worth fighting for,” Carney said, adding that participating in the democratic process on Oct. 19 was one way of doing so.
Lukaszuk said he believes Carney could become more directly involved as the referendum campaign progresses. He also called on the federal Conservative Party to take a more active role in opposing Alberta separation.
Pointing to Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre’s statement that Alberta Conservative MPs support the campaign, Lukaszuk said supporters had yet to see a significant presence from them on the ground.
He stressed that the issue should not be viewed through a partisan lens, arguing that supporters of Canadian unity from across the political spectrum need to participate in the campaign.
