The federal Conservative Party has initiated a campaign aimed at mobilizing its supporters to vote in favor of remaining part of Canada during the upcoming Alberta referendum.
On October 19, residents of Alberta will cast their votes on whether to continue as a province or start the legal proceedings for a binding referendum on secession from the nation.
During a speech in Calgary this summer, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre urged Albertans to remain united, asserting that the issues raised by separatists are with the Liberal government rather than with Canada itself.
“What we need is not a different country in Alberta, but a change in government policies in Ottawa,” stated Poilievre on June 8.
MP Dane Lloyd from the Edmonton area has been appointed as the caucus lead for the campaign advocating to remain.
“Our outreach to conservative Albertans carries a clear message, and it’s not that everything is fine,” Lloyd remarked in a Friday interview.
“We recognize that the current situation must evolve. However, our issue does not lie with Canada.”
He noted that many Albertans feel as though “their voices are ignored and their values are not respected” by the federal administration.
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre greets the crowd at the Calgary Stampede parade in July. Earlier this summer, Poilievre stated that ‘all Conservatives will be campaigning for Canadian unity in Alberta.’ (Jeff McIntosh/The Canadian Press)
This sentiment, he explained, continues despite the fact that Prime Minister Mark Carney’s Liberal government has eliminated the consumer carbon pricing, entered into a memorandum of understanding with Alberta Premier Danielle Smith concerning resource development, and has referred a West Coast pipeline for approval as a project of national interest.
Lloyd indicated that constituents he has engaged with during roundtables “still consider themselves patriotic Canadians,” yet they are discontented with how the province has been treated by federal governments over the years, with the exception of the tenure of former Prime Minister Stephen Harper.
As national pride strengthens across Canada due to the ongoing trade conflict with the United States, “we need to harness that patriotism,” Lloyd asserted.
The federal government has also appointed a senior advisor focused on Alberta earlier this year. Morgan Breitkreutz was selected to help coordinate the federal response regarding the Alberta referendum.
Launch of Conservative Website
Surveys indicate that the overwhelming majority of Albertans favor remaining in Canada.
Some groups actively advocating for a vote in favor of initiating the referendum process argue that a positive vote would provide leverage against Ottawa.
Polling data also suggests that the movement for separation is primarily a right-wing concern, with a significant portion of the support for secession coming from backers of Smith’s United Conservative Party.
Earlier this summer, Poilievre stated that “all Conservatives will be campaigning for Canadian unity in Alberta.”
Throughout the summer, Poilievre visited Alberta to participate in the Calgary Stampede and various events in his Battle River-Crowfoot constituency.
On Friday, the Conservatives for Canada group unveiled a new website and issued a statement via social media.
When asked why the campaign was initiated just six weeks before the vote and shortly before MPs are scheduled to return to Ottawa, Lloyd explained that after spending the summer engaging with the community, he recognized the necessity for a focused campaign.
“As you know, voter turnout during referendums can often be low. It is vital that we motivate at least the 1.4 million Albertans who voted Conservative in the last election to participate and support a stronger Alberta within a united Canada,” he stated.
This week, Elections Alberta announced it is expecting high voter turnout.
The provincial elections body reported receiving 290,000 requests for mail-in ballots thus far, with polling indicating that voter participation could achieve a record-breaking 85 percent.
Lloyd mentioned that this “grassroots campaign” is functioning within the guidelines set by Elections Alberta.
The campaign website prominently features options for donations and provides details on how to vote and get involved as a volunteer.