EDMONTON — Tons of of individuals in red-and-white clothes waved Canadian flags, cheered as honking automobiles handed by and sang “O Canada” at a launch occasion for a marketing campaign aiming to cease Alberta from quitting Confederation.
Thomas Lukaszuk, Alberta’s former deputy premier, mentioned his Eternally Canadian marketing campaign will see him and tons of of volunteers zigzagging from the province’s north to the south in his “Unity Bus” to encourage Albertans to vote for staying in Canada in an October referendum.
“I shall be on the highway for the subsequent six months, driving on this bus from city to city, campground to campground,” he advised the group exterior his marketing campaign’s new headquarters in Edmonton’s northwest.
“That is positively an important vote within the historical past of this province. This nation can’t be damaged up by anyone.”
He mentioned the marketing campaign will embrace door-knocking, garden indicators stamped with the Canadian flag, and fact-checked data for Albertans on how vital voter turnout is and the way to enroll within the referendum.
Lukaszuk, who led the gathering of signatures for a federalist petition referred to as Eternally Canadian, mentioned his marketing campaign’s purpose is to acquire a transparent majority.
“We dwell in an exceptional nation,” he mentioned.
“There are Canadians born everywhere in the world. Some like me and a few of you’re fortunate to be born right here. We’re going to battle for this collectively,” mentioned the Polish-born Canadian.
Premier Danielle Smith introduced in a televised deal with on Thursday that an Oct. 19 referendum query will ask Albertans in the event that they need to stay in Canada or begin the method to carry a binding referendum on separation.
Smith has mentioned she couldn’t straight put separation on the poll as a result of a decide earlier this month quashed a separatist petition trying to drive such a vote.
The decide mentioned the Keep Free Alberta petition shouldn’t have been green-lit as a result of Smith’s authorities uncared for its obligation to seek the advice of First Nations. Smith has mentioned her authorities shall be interesting the choice.
She has additionally mentioned the greater than 400,000 signatures the Eternally Canadian petition garnered, and the roughly 300,000 signatures the Keep Free Alberta petition bought, signifies that greater than 700,000 Albertans need to put the province’s future in Confederation on a poll this fall.
The separatist petition hasn’t been verified by Elections Alberta whereas Lukaszuk’s petition was verified in December.
On Saturday, whereas standing in entrance of the identical “Unity Bus” he used whereas gathering signatures for his Eternally Canadian petition, Lukaszuk disagreed with Smith’s feedback.
“The actual fact is that the folks collected signatures and signed the Eternally Canadian petition to stop a referendum from occurring as a result of we knew that separatists had been going to file,” he mentioned.
“Hundreds of individuals can attest to the very fact, frankly, they don’t need a referendum. It’s being hoisted upon us. We didn’t ask for this however for the reason that premier needs a referendum we shall be there and we are going to vote.”
Lukaszuk additionally mentioned he’s open to working with Conservative Chief Pierre Poilievre, who mentioned this week all Conservative MPs will press for Alberta to vote to remain in Canada.
“This marketing campaign can have many different smaller campaigns, and theirs shall be one in every of them,” Lukaszuk mentioned.
“So long as we’re all rowing in the identical path, and as lengthy it’s about Alberta staying in Canada, I’ll gladly work with anyone.”
Saturday’s occasion was additionally attended by Eleanor Olszewski, the Liberal federal minister liable for prairies financial growth and the consultant for Edmonton Centre.
She mentioned Prime Minister Mark Carney ran on a platform to unite Canada and can proceed to take action.
“I grew up in southern Alberta in Drugs Hat,” she advised the group.
“I raised my household right here, constructed my profession right here and I proceed to dwell right here. To today, my identification as an Albertan is totally wrapped up with my identification as a Canadian. Nobody needs to be telling us that we have now to decide about these two points of who we’re. These are attempting instances.”
Mitch Sylvestre, the top of Keep Free Alberta, didn’t instantly reply to request for touch upon whether or not his separatist group can even be launching a provincewide marketing campaign.
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