Political leaders say Alberta referendum shows Canada can work — but needs work

Smith went on social media late Monday night to say, “Thank you, Alberta!”

“Albertans have voted for a stronger Alberta in a united Canada.”

Smith was scheduled to deliver a TV address Tuesday night to discuss the vote and the way forward. She has said she hopes the vote ends the separatism debate in Alberta, but separatists say the fight has just begun.

In B.C., NDP Leader David Eby said staying in Canada felt like a “no-brainer,” but was glad to see the people of Alberta confirm it.

“We’re stronger together as a country,” he said during a stop along his provincial election campaign. “We won’t agree on everything, but we will work together to make this country strong.”

Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe told reporters in Saskatoon that he and his government are pleased with the vote, “but also recognize that there is some significant work for us to do as Canadians.”

“There are still 24 per cent or so that said they no longer want to remain a nation of Canada, and so to those Canadians outside of Alberta, I would say let’s give them a reason to think differently,” he said.

Moe said more progress is being made on developing provincial resources under Carney than under his predecessor, Justin Trudeau.

“I think most Canadians do see a marked difference between leadership that we have now federally versus the leadership we had previously.”

In Calgary, federal Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre said the vote was welcome but was also a message to Carney’s government.

“After 11 years of Liberal government, there’s a quarter of Albertans, a third of Quebecers, that voted for a separation option in the last month,” Poilievre said.

“It’s time to deliver real results in people’s real lives.”

Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston said the vote reminds him of the bond between the two provinces.

“Canada is stronger with Alberta as part of it, and last night’s results show the overwhelming majority of Albertans agree with this,” Houston said.

“Many Nova Scotians have strong ties to Alberta, either having worked there or with friends and family going to their province to help build up their industry.”

In Newfoundland and Labrador, Premier Tony Wakeham said a strong Canada respects collaboration and provincial jurisdiction. “These principles are essential to building a more prosperous, competitive and resilient country,” he said.

Federal NDP Leader Avi Lewis said, “We know things are tough in Alberta, from health care to the cost of living, to the embattled education system and so much more.

“But as so many Albertans have shown us, we don’t fix our problems by turning on each other.”

Alberta’s premier called the referendum to put to rest a debate she said had been bubbling and growing over federal policies, manifesting itself in hundreds of thousands signing citizen-led petitions for and against separation.

Critics say there never was any such broad-based debate. They say Smith inflamed fringe separatist sentiment to placate separatists wielding outsized influence in her United Conservative Party and caucus.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 20, 2026.

— With files from Dayne Patterson in Calgary, Jeremy Simes in Regina, Brenna Owen in Vancouver and Nick Murray in Ottawa

Jack Farrell, The Canadian Press

by The Canadian Press

Political leaders say Alberta referendum shows Canada can work — but needs work

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