Carney greets Forever Canadian volunteers in Banff ahead of Oct. 19 referendum

Prime Minister Mark Carney met with volunteers from the Forever Canadian campaign on Friday in Banff, greeted by roughly 50 supporters holding red and white signs at the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity on the final day of a federal cabinet retreat. Carney wrote "Canada is everyone and for everyone" on the group's pink promotional RV as the crowd sang O Canada.

Alberta is set to hold a referendum on Oct. 19 on whether to hold a second vote on leaving Canada. Thomas Lukaszuk, a former Alberta deputy premier who leads Forever Canadian, said Carney has been a calm, reassuring presence, showing Albertans there is "someone at the helm" through trade talks with the United States. Lukaszuk said he expects Carney to become more personally engaged in the campaign later on, and said he hopes federal Conservative MPs from Alberta get more involved, saying he has not yet seen them show up.

Carney did not take questions Friday, but on Thursday he said his main role is delivering an economic agenda for Alberta and Canada, and he urged Albertans to vote or cast an early or mail-in ballot on Oct. 19. Emergency Management Minister Eleanor Olszewski, who represents an Edmonton riding, said the federal government's role is not to tell Albertans how to vote but to be a strong partner, though she said colleagues are calling for a remain vote.

Calgary Mayor Jeromy Farkas credited Carney's cabinet for engaging with Alberta beyond transactional appeals, citing visits to events like Stampede and rural communities.