Prime Minister Mark Carney says US wants to split Canada amid Alberta separation vote
By
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US → say → vote
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney warned Thursday that the United States is trying to break Canada so it can “own us” as he urged oil-rich Alberta not to begin a process toward separation in Monday’s referendum.
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he → warn → referendum
Alberta, which has the world’s fourth-largest proven oil reserves, will decide whether to remain a province or instruct the government to begin the legal process toward a future referendum on separation.
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which → have → separation
“This referendum comes at the worst possible time,” Carney told a large pro-Canada rally in Calgary.
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Carney → come → Calgary
“The world has become more dangerous and divided.
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world → become → ?
Some outside our borders are working to break us so they can own us.”
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they → work → us
He did not directly mention the U.S. or its President Donald Trump in that passage, but has done so in similar past speeches.
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He → mention → speeches
Carney’s warning came as U.S. President Donald Trump wages a trade war with Canada and after his repeated threats to make Canada the 51st U.S. state.
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Canada → come → threats
Carney has argued that Canada needs to become more economically resilient and less dependent on the United States.
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Canada → argue → States
Carney urged Albertans not to use the vote simply to send Ottawa a message, saying a decisive result could settle the separation question.
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result → urge → question
“Don’t be fooled by the idea you can ‘send a message’ with your vote,” Carney said.
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Carney → fool → vote
A vote against Canada is a dangerous bluff that will lead to years of deep division and great uncertainty.”
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that → lead → division
Carney makes the case for Canada
Carney, who grew up in Alberta, spent Thursday campaigning in Calgary before addressing the Forever Canadian rally at the BMO Centre.
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who → make → Centre
His office estimated about 5,000 people attended, with some waiting more than two hours to get through security.
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some → estimate → security
Organizers were also holding a second rally with Carney in Edmonton on Friday.
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Organizers → hold → Friday
Earlier Thursday, he pointed to the many Albertans who were born or educated elsewhere in Canada and to firefighters who come from across the country to help Alberta during wildfires as examples of the ties binding the province to the rest of Canada.
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who → point → Canada
At the rally, Carney also acknowledged the grievances that have fueled alienation in Alberta.
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that → acknowledge → Alberta
“The frustrations that many Albertans have felt are real,” he said.
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he → feel → that
Carney said that while growing up, Ottawa made Albertans feel “like our resources weren’t our own” and that more recently the province was made to feel its energy contributions were “against the tides of history.”
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contributions → say → history
A Liberal prime minister finds unlikely support
The setting is striking for a Liberal prime minister.
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setting → find → minister
Alberta has spent decades feuding with Liberal governments in Ottawa, particularly over energy and federal power.
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Alberta → spend → energy
But Carney has broken with some of the policies associated with his predecessor, Justin Trudeau, fast-tracked a proposed new oil pipeline to the Pacific and called Canada an energy superpower.
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Carney → break → Canada
Carney pointed to the Pacific Link pipeline as evidence of a changed relationship, saying it would create more than 140,000 jobs and generate revenue for social programs.
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it → point → programs
His biggest cheer came when he said the pipeline would reduce Canada’s dependence on the United States.
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pipeline → come → States
“Careful, they might think that’s election interference.
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that → think → ?
A little touchy,” Carney joked, drawing laughter.
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Carney → joke → laughter
He was referring to U.S. Ambassador Pete Hoekstra’s warning to Canadian politicians not to interfere in the U.S. midterm elections.
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He → refer → elections
Tanya Clemens, co-chair of the pro-independence group Let Alberta Decide, acknowledged Carney presents a challenge.
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Carney → let → challenge
“He’s formidable for sure,” Clemens told The Associated Press.
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Clemens → ’ → Press
Clemens argued, however, that Carney’s agreements with Alberta Premier Danielle Smith amount to “pinky promises” that do not resolve long-standing grievances with Ottawa.
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that → argue → Ottawa
Keith Wilson, another leader of Let Alberta Decide, rejected Carney’s argument that global instability made this the wrong time for the vote.
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this → let → vote
I don’t understand what’s the logic,” Wilson said.
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Wilson → understand → ?
“Then it’s the best time for him to get back to Ottawa.”
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him → ’ → Ottawa
Wilson said Carney should ask Parliament to repeal federal measures that separatists say have hurt Alberta, including authority he says could be used to tax oil exports in retaliation against the United States.
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he → say → States
He predicted Carney would eventually impose such a tax despite Carney saying he sees no value in using Canadian energy exports as leverage against the U.S.
“It’s one cabinet meeting away,” Wilson said.
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Wilson → predict → U.S.
“He’s gonna do it.
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He → go → it
He has to do it.”
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He → have → it
Smith, who called the vote but supports remaining in Canada, cast her ballot Wednesday and said she voted for Alberta to remain in Canada.
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Alberta → call → Canada
She has said support for separation remains too high for her liking.
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support → say → liking
“Canada can still work,” Smith said after voting.
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Smith → work → ?
…and 10 more, not listed.
The Aporia
