Canada's prime minister compares the upcoming Alberta separation vote to the 2016 Brexit referendum, cautioning against unintended consequences.
6:14 PM
Prime Minister Mark Carney has called the upcoming Alberta referendum on separation from Canada a "dangerous bluff", drawing a parallel to the Brexit vote that led to the United Kingdom's departure from the European Union.
Speaking to reporters on Monday, Carney, who led the Bank of England during the 2016 Brexit referendum, said that a decade after that vote the UK was "trying to undo what people didn't think they were voting for, but what they ended up having". He cautioned Albertans against using a separation vote as a negotiating tactic with Ottawa, warning that such a move may produce unintended consequences.
Carney said he will campaign for Canadian unity in the coming months ahead of the referendum. Albertans are scheduled to vote on October 19 on whether they want to remain part of Canada or hold a binding vote on separation at a later date.
The prime minister's comments reflect concerns about the referendum's potential outcomes and the parallels he sees with the Brexit process. Carney's experience during the UK's EU membership vote gives him direct knowledge of how referendum results can diverge from voters' expectations and the subsequent complications that arise.
The Alberta referendum represents a significant political moment for Canada, with the province's residents set to decide on a fundamental question about their place within the federation. The October 19 vote will determine whether a binding separation referendum proceeds, rather than settling the separation question directly.
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