Prime Minister Mark Carney brought the federal unity campaign to Calgary on Thursday, telling a large pro-Canada rally that Monday's Alberta referendum comes at a difficult moment internationally and should not be used simply to send Ottawa a message.
The vote is not a direct independence referendum. Albertans will decide whether the province should remain in Canada or instruct the government to begin a legal process toward a future separation referendum, alongside nine other questions on immigration and constitutional change.
Carney urged voters to reject those nine questions as well, while Premier Danielle Smith has said she needs support for them to press Ottawa for more provincial autonomy. Her government committed $4 million to advertising for the nine questions, while the Prime Minister's Office said it is spending about $250,000 on its own campaign.
More than 450,000 Albertans had already voted early or by mail, according to reports from the rally. Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre was set to deliver his own unity speech in Calgary on Friday, and Carney was scheduled to attend another pro-unity event in Edmonton.
