Canada PM сompares Alberta independence vote to Brexit “mistake”

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has described Alberta’s planned vote on whether to pursue an independence referendum as a “dangerous bluff,” drawing parallels with the United Kingdom’s Brexit experience.

Carney, who served as governor of the Bank of England at the time of the 2016 referendum that led to the UK leaving the European Union, warned that the consequences of such decisions can be long-lasting and difficult to reverse.

He said that nearly a decade after the Brexit vote, Britain was still “trying to undo what people didn’t think they were voting for, but what they ended up having.”

His comments come after Alberta Premier Danielle Smith announced that a vote will be held on October 19 to determine whether the province should remain part of Canada or move toward holding a binding referendum on secession.

Speaking late Monday, Carney cautioned against framing such votes as low-risk political tools.

“In these separation issues, it is often advanced that, ‘Vote for this and it is a free option’, ‘Vote for this, and we will strengthen our hand in a future negotiation’. That is a very dangerous bluff.

“I saw first hand what happened in the United Kingdom when the view was, ‘Vote for this, it’ll be soft and then we’ll negotiate, etc’.

“They’re still 10 years later trying to undo what people didn’t think they were voting for, but what they ended up having.”

Smith has stated that she supports Alberta remaining within Canada, despite initiating the vote. Her position has drawn comparisons to former UK prime minister David Cameron, who called the Brexit referendum in part to manage internal divisions while personally supporting continued EU membership, before resigning after the vote to leave.

Smith’s party did not campaign on holding a referendum during the last provincial election.

Carney questioned the democratic basis of the proposal, saying: “Is it the democratic will of Albertans? Did they vote for this in the last provincial election? No, they didn’t. It wasn’t on the ballot paper.”

He also highlighted federal efforts to address economic concerns in Alberta, noting plans to build an oil pipeline from the province to Canada’s Pacific coast to boost export capacity.

Carney emphasized the benefits of national unity, stating: “We have to be very careful about this. There’s a very strong positive case for Canada, a strong Alberta in a united Canada.

“I look forward to making that case with many, many other Albertans and Canadians over the course of the next 150 days.”

Smith, meanwhile, argued that frustrations in Alberta have been driven by the policies of former Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau.

She said: “I would also remind all Canadians that we should not dismiss the legitimate grievances of Albertans.

“Instead, we should focus on addressing these issues, restoring hope in Canada, and demonstrating that our country can work and is working.”

By Tamilla Hasanova