Ontario Premier Doug Ford urges Albertans vote to remain in Canada

Ontario Premier Doug Ford, with Alberta Premier Danielle Smith at his side, told a Calgary audience Monday that Albertans need to stay in the Confederation fold.

Official response and confirmed impact

“I’m going to keep this real, real short,” Ford said when asked about the consequences of separation issue in Canada.

“Folks, united we stand, divided we fall. We need to be a united country. We need to stand together. “I love all Albertans,” he added.

“And we’re always going to stick together.”

Ford made the comments as they shared the stage to discuss the economy and energy policy at an industry conference. On Oct.

19, Albertans will vote in a referendum on whether to stay in Canada or whether it’s time to hold a second, binding referendum on leaving Confederation.

Both Ford and Smith were asked whether separatist debates in Quebec and Alberta are helping or hurting Canada as it tries to build the economy and develop its resources.

Smith, prior to Ford responding, repeated her assertions that anger and estrangement had been building for years due to federal policies she has said undercut Alberta’s ability to develop its oil and gas.