Poilievre backs Alberta independence vote and urges national unity

During the closing hours of Alberta's independence referendum, federal Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre defended the ballot and urged Canadians to work toward reconciliation after the results are known. He dismissed claims from the Alberta NDP that the vote is a costly distraction and a threat to national unity, insisting the goal should be to heal divisions rather than defeat one side. Poilievre backed the United Conservative Party's inclusion of questions on provincial immigration control, including fees for newcomers and limits on education eligibility, framing them as necessary for sustainability.

He blamed Liberal immigration policies for high numbers, noting recent federal cuts but saying levels remain excessive. When asked whether separatists should abandon their cause if the vote fails, he encouraged them to stay engaged in the Canadian family. The visit also allowed Poilievre to show solidarity with Wainwright after a nearby training-base fire that killed four soldiers.