Carney hits Calgary to stump for unity, gets swarmed by selfie-seeking well-wishers

CALGARY — Prime Minister Mark Carney was swamped by selfie-seeking well-wishers Thursday as he toured through Alberta’s largest city to rally the pro-Canada vote ahead of Monday’s referendum on separation.

Carney urged Albertans to not only vote for Confederation, but to also reject the nine other questions on the ballot involving immigration and the Constitution.

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says she needs a yes to those nine in order to send a message to Ottawa that provinces need more autonomy and respect.

“It’s time for us to come together, stand up for ourselves and take care of each other,” Carney told the cheering crowd at a city park in one of three events early in the day.

“(Say) no to the nine,” he added to more cheers, including from two of his Liberal MPs from Alberta, Eleanor Olszewski and Corey Hogan, who stood beside him.

Carney began the day taking selfies and handshakes and accepting a bouquet of flowers at a northeast restaurant.

Many well-wishers sported small red and white Canadian flags in their shirt pockets.

“I like the red,” Carney said as he shook hands.

One woman said: “It’s for you.”

“It’s for us. It’s all for Canada,” replied Carney.

He then joined fewer than 100 people, many dressed in varieties of Maple Leaf red, at the park rally where he urged them to reject Smith’s other nine ballot questions.

Most of those present held signs and slogans denouncing the nine questions and separation.

From there it was on to the student hall food court at the University of Calgary. Carney was swarmed from the moment he arrived. Some waved small Canadian flags. A poster in the crowd said: Just No. Vote No. Vote Remain.

RCMP and security officials pushed back against the crowd while Carney smiled, posed for selfies, made chit chat and autographed Canadian flags.

“New Canadian,” said Carney pointing at a smiling young woman as they posed for a photo.

One man stood on a table to shout: “Carney. You are awesome. You are awesome, man.”

Outside, a large crowd gathered at Carney’s motorcade. He signed flags for two women and made a point of giving back their pen. “Never let it be said that I stole,” he said.

Later Thursday, Carney was set to join former Alberta deputy premier Thomas Lukaszuk at a rally for his Forever Canadian group, which has been campaigning to keep the province in Confederation.

The prime minister is slated to go to a similar rally Friday in Edmonton.

Smith, meanwhile, is also in Calgary on Thursday, where she’s scheduled to headline a United Conservative Party fundraiser.

Smith has kept a comparatively low profile in the last week, but she’s set to speak Friday in Calgary alongside other conservative heavyweights, including federal Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre.

Earlier this week, Smith posted a video announcing she had voted to stay in Canada and urged Albertans to vote yes to the other nine questions. Smith says a yes for Canada and a yes vote to the other nine questions gives her the leverage she needs to fight for a strong Alberta within a united Canada.

The other nine questions focus on giving Alberta more power over immigration while also erecting restrictions, and perhaps fees, for some newcomers and temporary workers who want to access health care, education and other social services.

Smith says immigration costs are prohibitively expensive, but critics have called her questions an anti-immigrant dog whistle.

The other questions ask for Albertans’ blessing for the government to work with other provinces to change the Constitution in order to wrest power from Ottawa and abolish the Senate.

Smith’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Carney calling for Albertans to reject the other nine questions.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 15, 2026.

Bill Graveland and Dayne Patterson, The Canadian Press