Ontario Premier Doug Ford weighs in on Alberta separation referendum vote

Ontario Premier Doug Ford says he would never put a separation referendum to Ontarians, saying it ‘would be a disaster for Alberta’ to separate.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford said it would be a “disaster” if Alberta left Canada after Premier Danielle Smith announced a vote this fall on whether the province should hold a referendum on separation.

“I’d never do it. Premier Smith knows how I feel. She wants to, I guess, protect her 30 per cent base. It’s not going to win, as far as I’m concerned,” Ford said at an unrelated news conference in Sault Ste. Marie on Friday.

During a televised address Thursday night, Smith announced that Albertans will head to the polls Oct. 19 to vote on the matter.

Smith said the question will read: “Should Alberta remain a province of Canada or should the government of Alberta commence the legal process required under the Canadian Constitution to hold a binding provincial referendum on whether or not Alberta should separate from Canada?”

Federal Minister of Industry Melanie Joly was at the news conference alongside Ford and said that a strong Canada starts with a strong Alberta when asked about the referendum question.

“We need to have a united front, and that’s why we’ve been working on cooperative federalism, because we think it’s our job at the federal level to work together,” she said.

Joly’s remarks echo those made by Prime Minister Mark Carney Friday morning during a tour of renovations at Parliament Hill.

“This building is in the process of renovation, as I said, it’s going to be better than ever when it’s finished… Just like Canada. Canada is the greatest country in the world, but it can be better. And we’re working on making it better. We’re working with Alberta on making it better.”

With files from Rachel Aiello and The Canadian Press