The following is a transcript of the Hon. Pierre Poilievre’s response on Alberta’s future in Canada from May 21, 2026. Please find the video here. These remarks have been edited for clarity. Check against delivery.
Surrey, BC – I’m a strong Canadian federalist, a proud Albertan and a proud Canadian. I want a strong Alberta within a united Canada, and all Conservatives will be campaigning for Canadian unity in Alberta and, potentially – we hope not, but potentially – in Quebec as well, if the separatists win there.
We believe that Alberta deserves a fair deal in this country, which means that we unblock the resources, we allow the oil and gas sector to grow, we get the federal government off the backs and out of the way of Alberta workers and small businesses so the province can prosper.
Reverse the gun grab and other unnecessary federal Liberal irritants, but all for the purpose of making our country more united, more affordable and more strong.
It is the job of the Prime Minister of Canada to unite the country. As Prime Minister in waiting, I will begin that work myself. I will be campaigning across the province of Alberta, encouraging Albertans to stay as part of the Canadian family and encouraging nationwide unity for all Canadians.
And if I can be nostalgic for just a moment, I just want to recognize that it was only about 10 years ago, under a Conservative government, where there was absolutely no separation movement whatsoever in Alberta.
The PQ and the BQ – the two separatist parties in Quebec – they didn’t even exist anymore. They had been wiped off the electoral map, and it was thought that separatism was a thing of the past in Canada.
I want to thank Prime Minister Harper for uniting the country in that way because it is the job of a Prime Minister to unite, and it’s worth asking how the current Prime Minister is doing in that regard, given the situation in both Quebec and in Alberta.
But as for me, I know where I stand. I stand for a united country, and we’re going to campaign every day and every way to unite this country around hope.