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OTTAWA — Don’t throw in the towel.

That was the message Opposition Leader Pierre Poilievre brought to Calgary on Friday, delivering an 18-minute keynote address at the Canada Strong and Free Network conference, making the case that both Alberta and Canada are stronger together.

“Quitting is the easy way out. And Albertans are not quitters,” Poilievre said.

“We don’t just take our ball and go home.”

Albertans heading to referendum vote

As Albertans head to the polls on Monday to decide if the province should hold a binding vote on seceding from Canada, both Poilievre and Prime Minister Mark Carney spent Friday in Wild Rose Country — both carrying similar messages about the importance of keeping Canada united.

Last week’s victory of the separatist Parti Quebecois in Quebec’s provincial elections was seen as a positive sign for those advocating separation.

The PM arrived in Calgary on Thursday to deliver remarks at the pro-union Forever Canadian Rally, and on Friday spent the afternoon in Red Deer before attending the same rally in Edmonton in the evening.

Carney and Alberta Premier Danielle Smith garnered no mention from Poilievre on Friday during his speech, concentrating instead on pushing the importance of banding together and restoring the greatness of a country that Canadians spent generations defending.

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Albertans’ disillusioned with Ottawa, not Canada

Poilievre described those looking to separate from Canada as “frustrated patriots” who still love their country, reminding them that their real beef is with policies coming out of Ottawa that are making homes and groceries unaffordable, leaving valuable resources in the ground, and creating an out-of-control immigration system and justice system incapable of keeping violent offenders behind bars.

“Canada is more than a government,” he said. “It is a people, a flag, a land, a history and a promise.”

Rather than separate, Poilievre urged Albertans to “lock arms” with like-minded Canadians, including Quebecers wanting more control over their province, Newfoundlanders seeking to double oil and gas production, Ontario police unions demanding tougher sentencing and British Columbians pushing for LNG terminals.

“My message to Albertans is this: don’t leave your fellow Canadians behind — lock arms with them,” he said.

“Lock arms with ambitious, hardworking young people for homes, jobs, and hope right across the country. Lock arms with Canadians to save money and jobs, to keep people safe, to cap immigration, and to put Canada first. Lock arms for the affordable, safe, and independent Canada we all deserve.”

bpassifiume@postmedia.com
X: @bryanpassifiume