‘We will fight for Canada’: Opposition leader Poilievre weighs in on separatism in speech to Conservative supporters

Conservative Party leader Pierre Poiiievre spoke to party supporters Saturday night in speech delivered at Heritage Park in Calgary, where the Opposition Leader grew up.

Opposition leader Pierre Poilievre, who grew up in Calgary, is spending the weekend in the city to take in the Stampede.

He also spoke to supporters at Heritage Park Saturday night, where he addressed the Oct. 19 referendum and Alberta separatism.

“We will fight for Canada,” Poilievre said. “Including in the upcoming referendum to win back Albertans...through hope, not by wagging our fingers or lecturing them, nor by threatening. We want to be respectful to people in both sides of this debate.

“There are legitimate points of view to go around,” he added, “and while i have been very clear that I will always stand for a united Canada, we will always be willing to listen to the views and address the legitimate concerns of people who are involved in this debate.

“We want to ensure that when this is all over, we will once again be fully united as citizens of a common land dedicated to a common purpose of restoring the promise of this country.”

Poilievre also referenced the recently signed pipeline deal, calling on Prime Minister Mark Carney to end the tanker ban off the coast of northern B.C., which he says blocks Alberta oil from Pacific waters.

He said Carney’s government isn’t doing enough to end the affordability crisis and it continues to struggle in trade talks with the U.S.

With files from CTV News’ Darren Wright