UPDATE 1-Carney stresses importance of Alberta after separation vote announcement

"Canada is ⁠the ​greatest country ⁠in the world, but it can be better ...we're working with Alberta on ⁠making it better," Carney told reporters. "We're renovating the country as ​we go. And Alberta being at the center of ⁠that is essential," said Carney, who did not specifically mention the ⁠referendum ​announcement.

Prime ​Minister Mark Carney on Friday stressed Alberta's importance to Canada, a ‌day after the oil-rich province announced a non-binding referendum on whether its residents want to remain in the country.

The largely ‌symbolic move could pose a major challenge for Carney, ‌who is pushing for national unity in the face of U.S. tariffs and President Donald Trump's talk of annexation. "Canada is ⁠the ​greatest country ⁠in the world, but it can be better ...we're working with Alberta on ⁠making it better," Carney told reporters.

"We're renovating the country as ​we go. And Alberta being at the center of ⁠that is essential," said Carney, who did not specifically mention the ⁠referendum ​announcement. Those pushing for separation say they are unhappy with the environmental policies of Carney's predecessor Justin ⁠Trudeau, which they say have undermined the province's oil and ⁠gas industry.

Carney took ⁠power in March 2025 and subsequently rolled back several of Trudeau's green measures.