‘Vote to stay in Canada’: Premier Kinew to Albertans as referendum advance voting underway
Posted October 14, 2026 5:53 pm.
Last Updated October 14, 2026 6:29 pm.
Advanced voting has kicked off in Alberta, where hundreds of thousands of voters have cast their ballot on whether the province should hold a binding referendum on seceding from Canada.
The decision Albertans make would have major implications for Manitoba and on Wednesday, Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew had a message for the wild rose country.
“We love Alberta here in Manitoba,” Kinew said. “Every Albertan I’ve seen all summer long, make sure you get out to vote and vote to stay in Canada, because our country is so strong when we stick together.”
Kinew said a Canada without an Alberta is unthinkable for him.
“It would be like thinking about your family without a family member that you love and care for, so I have so much to say about it but it keeps coming back to: let’s keep building up this country that we love.”
That message was echoed by Manitobans who spoke to CityNews.
“We need to be Canada strong, like I don’t know what the benefit would be, it’s like when Quebec wanted to separate, I don’t agree on it,” said Maria Ypma.
“It’s hard to say what the impact it’s going to have on all of us, so yeah, I’m Canadian, I’ll be Canadian until the day I die,” said Harold.
Advance voting will take place this week until official voting day on Oct. 19.
Premier Danielle Smith has put forward 10 questions for Albertans to answer, one of them being whether they should remain in Canada or hold a second referendum on leaving the confederation.
Political scientist and University of Manitoba professor Chris Adams says an Alberta separation would impact Manitoba greatly, from grain transportation, to travel, to a myriad of other issues, but he doesn’t see it coming to fruition.
“I grew up and most Canadians grew up in a period where Quebec separatism was on the political agenda, and that was a trying period,” Adams said.
“The polling numbers that I’ve been seeing from different firms is that only a minority of Alberta voters are supporting this idea of even having a referendum going ahead, so the yes vote, it’s doubtful.”
