Edmonton mayor puts forward motion in support of Alberta remaining in Canada
Posted July 8, 2026 11:33 am.
The Alberta separation debate was on the agenda at Edmonton city council Tuesday.
Edmonton Mayor Andrew Knack put forward a policy motion in support of Alberta remaining in Canada.
“I wish this motion didn’t have to happen,” Mayor Knack said. “It feels a little bit odd that we’re having this conversation. But at the end of the day, I do think it’s important that council provide clear direction that this is important to our city.”
This October, Albertans will vote on whether they think the province should remain part of the country and begin the legal process for a separation referendum.
Mayor Knack told reporters he believes any conversation about Alberta separating from Canada is harmful.
“By being complacent, by sitting back and letting others vote, we don’t send the clear message that we need to send to the business community, we need to send to people who live here, we need to send to the broader world that we’re going to continue to work hard to support this country.”
This comes as Elections Canada begins officially verifying a pro-Alberta independence petition.
‘More inclined to celebrate national unity’
As politicians at all levels weigh into the debate, federal Conservative Party Leader Pierre Poilievre says he wants Alberta to stay in Canada.
“Albertans are proud to be Canadians,” Poilievre said in an interview with CityNews’ sister station OMNI Television. “But I think we could be even more united if the biggest industry in the province was able to prosper with the federal government off its back and out of its way.”
Poilievre says new federal policies could ease separatist concerns, but Alberta needs results.
“We need pipelines approved, carbon tax eliminated, a strong resource economy that blossoms and grows, and I think if Albertans get the sense that those ideas are proceeding, that they’ll be more inclined to celebrate national unity,” the Conservative leader said.
