'I hope there's a strong result for Canada tonight, and then tomorrow we can begin the work of healing the divisions'

WAINWRIGHT — As some of the last voters cast their ballots on a referendum offering a path to Alberta independence, federal Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre asked people to vote for Canada.

Some critics, including the opposition Alberta NDP, say the referendum is a waste of money — possibly costing more than $130 million — and places a dangerous strain on the country’s unity in the face of threats from the U.S.

But Poilievre said he hopes the vote’s aftermath will see a greater sense of unity and that he understands grievances separatists have with Ottawa.

“I hope there’s a strong result for Canada tonight, and then tomorrow we can begin the work of healing the divisions,” he said.

“I think the goal should not be to beat one side or the other.”

Poilievre defended the UCP government’s decision to include referendum questions on giving the province more power over immigration. Other questions centre around charging some newcomers fees for health care and constraining education eligibility.

He said the immigration questions are based on important issues of sustainability.

“There’s no question we have to get immigration under control, we need to cut back on the deluxe benefits that are given to people here illegally,” said the opposition leader, who’s MP for Battle River—Crowfoot, which includes Wainwright.

He rejected accusations by critics that the UCP government is scapegoating immigrants for their own failure to keep pace with population growth.

“I don’t think that’s an accurate characterization either of what the critics are saying or what the situation is,” said Poilievre.

“Nobody’s blaming individual people, they’re blaming Liberal immigration policies.”

The federal government has made moves to reduce immigration and Alberta’s intake of them has recently dramatically plummeted, but Poilievre said those levels are still too high.

When asked if separatist forces should give up their fight to break Alberta away from Canada if they lose Monday’s vote, he urged the pro-independence side to give Canada a chance.

“I don’t like the term ‘give up,’ I’d rather them join and be part of making the Canadian family everything they hoped for,” said Poilievre, who was in Wainwright to lend the community support after last weekend’s grass fire that killed four soldiers at the nearby training base.

“We don’t need to look at beating people in this referendum.”

Some separatist leaders say they’ll continue to fight for an independent Alberta regardless of the referendum’s outcome.

Successive public opinion polls have shown the pro-Canada side to be the significant majority in Alberta.

Editor’s note: This story has been updated to correct an inaccurate paraphrasing of Poilievre’s comments and the headline on this story was edited to reflect the change.

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