Alberta’s Smith makes it clear separation now dead issue as long as she is premier

“Alberta will remain a province of Canada.

“Albertans will continue to be Canadians.”

Her comments come after three-quarters of votes cast in Alberta’s referendum called for the province to stay in Canada rather than hold a second, binding vote on leaving Confederation.

Smith called the vote to put to rest what she viewed as a widespread, divisive debate. She said Tuesday that debate is over, and so is the subject of separation in Alberta.

“I want to make it clear tonight that for as long as I am premier, I will honour this mandate from Albertans and will not be holding another referendum on this issue.

“Make no mistake,” she added. “Our government will continue to boldly assert our province’s autonomy by exercising the provincial rights guaranteed to us under Canada’s Constitution.

“But those disputes will be settled within the political and legal institutions of our nation rather than pursuing the option of separation.”

She said she recognizes and respects those Canadians she says suffered under the policies of former prime minister Justin Trudeau, but stressed it’s a new day under Prime Minister Mark Carney.

She noted the two levels of government are co-operating to build Alberta and Canada through projects like a new pipeline to the B.C. coast.

“Albertans have turned the tide of this nation and reset the relationship with our federal government in a positive direction,” she said.

She said it was time for Albertans to put aside differences, now that the vote is done.

“Let us move forward not as a people divided by how we voted yesterday but as neighbours, friends, Albertans and Canadians.

“Let us treat one another with respect and compassion.”

Smith said she voted yes to stay in Canada, and public opinion polls before she called the referendum, after she called it, and on referendum night consistently indicated a strong majority of Albertans were also happy in the Confederation fold.

To that end, critics say there was never a broad-based movement to quit Confederation and accused Smith of rolling the dice on national unity simply to placate restive separatists who wield outsized influence in her United Conservative party.

Earlier Tuesday, Opposition NDP Leader Naheed Nenshi said Smith must now find a way to win back the trust of Albertans distressed over the vote, who are scheduled to go to the polls in a general election less than a year from now, on Oct. 18, 2027.

Across Canada Tuesday, other provincial and national leaders weighed in on the referendum. They stressed it was heartening to see Albertans place their faith in the federation.

“It’s a great result for Canada that Albertans have chosen unity,” Prime Minister Carney told reporters in Ottawa. “They’ve chosen to build together. They’ve chosen to continue to take care of each other.”

In Calgary, federal Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre said the vote was welcome but was also a message to Carney.

“After 11 years of Liberal government, there’s a quarter of Albertans, a third of Quebecers, that voted for a separation option in the last month,” Poilievre said.

“It’s time to deliver real results in people’s real lives.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 20, 2026.

— With files from Nick Murray in Ottawa and Dayne Patterson in Calgary.

Jack Farrell, The Canadian Press

by The Canadian Press

Alberta’s Smith makes it clear separation now dead issue as long as she is premier

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