Prime Minister Mark Carney started Thursday with selfies and flowers in Calgary, as he began his last-ditch tour stumping for Canadian unity days away from Alberta’s separation referendum. In the morning, Carney was met by supporters at a restaurant in the city’s northeast. He was later given a bouquet of flowers by staff and posed for photos. Many wore small red and white Canadian flags in their shirt pockets. “I like the red,” Carney said as he shook hands. One woman said: “It’s for you.” “It’s for us. It’s all for Canada,” replied Carney. Premier Danielle Smith has put 10 questions on Monday’s referendum, with the key one asking if Alberta should stay in Canada or hold a second, binding vote on quitting the country. The other nine questions deal with proposals Smith has put forward for immigration and constitutional reform. On Thursday night, Carney is set to join former Alberta deputy premier Thomas Lukaszuk at a rally for his Forever Canadian group, which has been campaigning to keep the province in Confederation. At the same time, Smith is scheduled to headline a $500-a-plate United Conservative Party fundraiser also in Calgary. Smith released a video Wednesday saying she voted at an advance poll and checked the box to keep the country together. She said she knows many Albertans are frustrated with the federal government but that the province is starting to see headway with major projects, including a proposed new oil pipeline to the West Coast. Monday is the official polling day but advance polls are open this week. Carney, asked Thursday about his message for Albertans, said if people are decided that they need to get out and vote. “Polls don’t vote. People do,” Carney said. “For those who are undecided, it’s hard to think of a worse time for a referendum or a better time for the province. The world is dangerously divided,” he said. He added that Canada is working, pointing to infrastructure investment, including in energy. Tonight’s rally isn’t the first time Carney and Lukaszuk have teamed up to spread a pro-Canada message. Last month, the prime minister invited Lukaszuk’s group to attend a cabinet retreat in Banff, Alta., and Carney signed the Maple Leaf-wrapped motorhome Lukaszuk has been touring the province in. The prime minister is also scheduled to attend a rally with Lukaszuk in Edmonton on Friday. Also Friday, Smith and federal Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre are scheduled to speak at a conservative conference in Calgary. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 15, 2026.
