Carney reaches out to pro-Canada referendum campaigners in Banff

Advertisement 1 This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Breadcrumb Trail Links HomeNews Carney reaches out to pro-Canada referendum campaigners in Banff Carney talkied with Forever Canadian volunteers and sang O Canada with them Author of the article: By Bill Kaufmann Published Sep 11, 2026 Last updated 53 minutes ago 5 minute read Join the conversation Prime Minister Mark Carney meets with Forever Canadian movement volunteers at the conclusion of the federal cabinet retreat in Banff on Friday, September 11, 2026. PHOTO BY GAVIN YOUNG /Postmedia Article content BANFF — Amid criticism that he’s not doing enough to boost anti-separatist forces in Alberta, Prime Minister Mark Carney met with pro-Canada volunteers outside a cabinet gathering in this Rocky Mountain resort town. Article content On Thursday at the cabinet planning forum, Carney wouldn’t commit to injecting federal money into the pro-Canada side, but urged people to vote in the Oct. 19 referendum that includes a question on Alberta’s future in Confederation. Article content Article content Article content Noon News Roundup Your weekday lunchtime roundup of curated links, news highlights, analysis and features. Sign Up By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. Article content Anti-separatist, Forever Canadian crusader Thomas Lukaszuk pulled up outside the cabinet meeting Friday in his campaign RV for a brief chat with Carney. The prime minister, he said, invited him to the gathering. Article content He said he’s not concerned that Carney hasn’t made a major effort to counter separatists in Alberta ahead of the referendum, which asks Albertans if they want to proceed to a binding vote on independence. Article content “I know the prime minister will become much more visible when the right time comes,” said Lukaszuk. Article content “The prime minister made comments (Thursday) about the importance of the referendum and voter turnout. That means you’re doing your job.” Article content But he said Conservative politicians who have pledged support have yet to show it. Article content Just before he departed Banff, Carney chatted and joked with a throng of Forever Canadian volunteers before leading a rendition of O Canada with them. Article content Article content He scrawled “Canada is everyone and for everyone,” on the side of the Forever Canadian…