According to reports from the BBC and The New York Times, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said on the 25th that a referendum to be held in October in Alberta — which could lead to the province seceding from Canada — is a "dangerous bluff," comparing it to the United Kingdom's Brexit referendum. The New York Times noted that this is Carney's strongest statement on the issue to date.
According to the BBC, Carney, who served as Governor of the Bank of England during Brexit, said that when the Brexit referendum was held, people did not realize what exactly they were voting for, yet they had to face the consequences. Ten years after the referendum, the United Kingdom is now trying to reverse that outcome.
Carney also warned that supporting the referendum should not be seen as a means to strengthen Alberta's negotiating position with Ottawa, as it could lead to unintended consequences. He said that in the coming months, he would campaign for Canadian unity: "We have to be very careful about this."
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith announced last week that she would push for a referendum in the province on the question of leaving Canada, scheduled for October 19. The vote will be non-binding, asking Alberta residents whether they wish to remain in Canada or whether the provincial government should initiate legal proceedings as required to hold a binding independence referendum at a later date. Smith has faced widespread criticism for her decision to hold the referendum as well as for her related remarks.
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