Canada's PM Warns the US Wants to 'Break Us So They Can Own Us'

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney traveled to the province of Alberta on Thursday to warn voters about a threat he says is coming from outside Canada's borders. He told a crowd of about 5,000 people that some foreign powers want to weaken Canada so they can control it. He made these remarks just days before Albertans vote in a referendum on Monday about whether to begin the process of leaving Canada. Carney urged them to vote no.

Alberta is one of Canada's wealthiest provinces because it sits on the fourth-largest proven oil reserves in the world. For decades, many Albertans have felt that the federal government in Ottawa has not treated them fairly. Monday's vote is not a direct vote to become an independent country right away. Instead, it asks Albertans whether the government should begin the legal steps that could one day lead to separation.

Carney spoke at a pro-Canada rally called 'Forever Canadian' at the BMO Centre in Calgary. About 5,000 people came, and many waited more than two hours to get through security. Carney grew up in Alberta, so his visit there carried special meaning. A second rally is planned for Friday in Edmonton.

Without naming the United States or President Donald Trump directly at the rally, Carney sent a clear message to the crowd. 'The world has become more dangerous and divided,' he said. 'Some outside our borders are working to break us so they can own us.' In earlier speeches, he had named the U.S. and Trump directly as sources of outside pressure.

The warning came during an ongoing trade dispute between Canada and the United States. Trump has repeatedly suggested that Canada should become the 51st U.S. state. Carney has pushed back hard, arguing that Canada must build up its own economy and reduce its dependence on the United States for trade. He has been making this case since taking office.

Carney urged voters not to treat the referendum as a simple protest against Ottawa. He warned that a vote for separation could cause years of confusion and division in the country. 'Don't be fooled by the idea you can send a message with your vote,' he said. 'This is not poker. A vote against Canada is a dangerous bluff that will lead to years of deep division and great uncertainty.'

At the same time, Carney said he understood why many Albertans feel frustrated with the federal government. He recalled that growing up in Alberta, he saw how federal decisions made locals feel they didn't control their own resources. He also said recent policies made many Albertans feel their energy work was being pushed aside. His willingness to say this is very unusual for a Liberal prime minister, since Alberta and Liberal governments have clashed for decades.

Carney has tried to show Alberta that things can change. He fast-tracked approval for a new oil pipeline called the Pacific Link, which would carry oil to Canada's Pacific coast. He said the pipeline would create more than 140,000 jobs and help pay for important programs like health care and education. He also called Canada an 'energy superpower,' which is a major change in tone from past Liberal leaders.

Not everyone was convinced by Carney's message. Tanya Clemens, co-chair of the pro-independence group Let Alberta Decide, called him 'formidable for sure,' but said his promises were just 'pinky promises' that don't solve Alberta's real problems. Another independence leader, Keith Wilson, said the timing of the vote was actually perfect and called on Carney to repeal federal laws that separatists say hurt Alberta. Wilson said federal interference in Alberta's energy industry was 'one cabinet meeting away.'

Premier Danielle Smith called the referendum vote herself, but she personally supports staying in Canada. She cast her ballot early on Wednesday in favor of remaining and said that support for separation is higher than she would like. 'Canada can still work,' Smith said. 'We just need to make some changes.' Political experts say Carney's warm welcome in Alberta is very unusual for a Liberal prime minister.

The push for Alberta separation has grown a lot in recent years. It began as a small movement but picked up steam after the COVID-19 pandemic and the 2022 Freedom Convoy protests. Many activists who first organized against vaccine rules later shifted their energy toward the idea of Alberta independence. Pro-independence organizers say the referendum is important even if it doesn't lead to a split — they see it as a way to win better terms from Ottawa. Advance voting ends Saturday before the final vote on Monday.