Calgary mayor says he wants to hold advocacy campaign opposing separation, but can't

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith, centre, flips pancakes at the Calgary Stampede alongside federal Minister of National Revenue Francois-Philippe Champagne, second right, and Calgary Mayor Farkas, right, on Thursday July 2, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Dayne Patterson

CALGARY — The mayor of Alberta’s largest city says he wants to hold an anti-separation advocacy campaign as the province nears a referendum to quit the country but that provincial rules are binding the city from taking that step.

Calgary Mayor Jeromy Farkas says he’s going to be advocating for Premier Danielle Smith’s government to lift restrictions that he says bar the municipality from actively campaigning on the issue.

He says his first step would be to commission research on the economic impacts separation would have on the city and educate Calgarians about those consequences ahead of a fall referendum.

Albertans are set to vote Oct. 19 on whether to stay in Canada or start the process to hold a second, binding referendum on quitting Confederation.

Calgary city staff said during a council meeting this week that the city could request an analysis on the impacts of the referendum.

However, the city could face issues with provincial legislation if it tried to spend more than $1,000 to promote or oppose an outcome in the referendum.

“I am going to fight tooth and nail against this misguided proposal. I’m going to be advocating for us to fix this country and not turn our backs on the rest of Confederation,” Farkas said Thursday following a joint event with Smith.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 2, 2026.

Dayne Patterson, The Canadian Press