By The Canadian Press

Poilievre says Conservatives want national unity in face of separation threats

Feb 17, 2026 | 5:19 PM

OTTAWA — Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre says his party will fight for a united Canada as a movement in Alberta pushes for that province to separate.

Answering a question from a reporter today, Poilievre said the Conservatives are “entirely a federalist caucus” and that he has not had a single member of Parliament on his team express they are in favour of Alberta separatism.

The group Stay Free Alberta is seeking a referendum vote for the province to become its own country, and has until May to get nearly 178,000 signatures.

Provinces cannot unilaterally separate from the country and if a referendum was to succeed, it would trigger negotiations between the province, the federal government and First Nations groups, among others.

Poilievre says he is both a proud federalist and a “born and bred Albertan.”

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During a speech at the Conservative convention in January, Poilievre blamed Liberal policies for separatist movements, arguing Ottawa has been stomping on Alberta’s energy sector and Quebec’s jurisdiction.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 17, 2026.

—With files from Lisa Johnson and Dayne Patterson

Catherine Morrison, The Canadian Press