Prime Minister Mark Carney on Friday declared Alberta an "essential" part of Canada, a day after the province announced a referendum on whether to begin the legal process toward separation.
Speaking during a tour of Parliament's renovations, Carney praised Alberta's contributions and said the province is central to Canada's future.
The October 19 vote, called by Premier Danielle Smith, asks Albertans whether the province should remain in Canada or if the government should proceed with a binding independence referendum. The move follows a successful legal challenge by First Nations groups that halted verification of a separatist petition.
Smith defended the vote, saying it's time for Albertans to decide their future. She said she will vote to remain in Canada and campaign for unity. Critics, including Indigenous leaders and the provincial NDP, called the referendum needless and divisive.
Opinion polls show about 25% of Albertans support independence. A separate pro-unity petition gathered 400,000 signatures earlier this year.