Open this photo in gallery:
Former prime minister Stephen Harper speaks at a gala commemorating the 20th anniversary of the Harper government in Ottawa in February. Mr. Harper led the country from 2006 to 2015, and is one of Canada’s most prominent Conservatives.PATRICK DOYLE/The Canadian Press
Former prime minister Stephen Harper will be campaigning for Albertans to remain a part of Canada and reject the sovereignty option in this October’s provincial referendum, according to his spokesperson.
Mr. Harper, who led the country from 2006 to 2015, is one of Canada’s most prominent Conservatives and, though born and raised in Toronto, has lived in Alberta throughout his professional career and represented Calgary-area ridings when he was a member of Parliament.
“PMSH will indicate his support for Canada and Alberta during the campaign,” Mr. Harper’s spokesperson Anna Tomala said in an e-mail, referring to the former prime minister as she responded to questions about his role ahead of the October referendum.
Opinion: The bone-deep roots of Alberta separatism, and the lesson Ottawa must heed
Opinion: Alberta separatism increasingly resembles a temper tantrum
Ms. Tomala did not provide any additional details.
Mr. Harper has so far mostly stayed out of the debate, but at the unveiling of his official portrait in February, the former federal leader urgently called for national unity.
“We must preserve Canada,” Mr. Harper told an audience that included Prime Minister Mark Carney as well as ministers, premiers, former MPs and other dignitaries attending the event across the street from Parliament Hill. “We must make any sacrifice necessary to preserve the independence and the unity of this blessed land.”
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith has announced that her government will add a question on secession to a previously scheduled referendum on Oct. 19, which is largely centred on immigration. The new question will ask voters whether Alberta should remain in Canada or start the legal process to hold a binding, second referendum on separation.
Former Alberta premier Jason Kenney, who has joined an organization campaigning for Alberta to remain in Canada, said he expected Mr. Harper would offer his views.
In an interview about a possible role for Mr. Harper in the anti-separatist effort, Mr. Kenney said he had not recently spoken with the former prime minister.
However, he said, “I have no doubt that as this progresses, at the appropriate time, he’ll make an important contribution to the debate.”
“He, very discreetly, uses his powerful voice so he’s not out there live-tweeting every day. I don’t expect that. But I hope and expect that he’ll make a very persuasive case at the right time,” Mr. Kenney said in reference to Mr. Harper.
Mr. Kenney was a senior cabinet minister for Mr. Harper, holding responsibilities for immigration, employment and defence while the Conservatives were in government. After his run in federal politics, he led the United Conservative Party to power in Alberta, and served as premier from 2019 to 2022.
Open this photo in gallery:
Mr. Kenney served as the 18th Premier of Alberta from 2019 to 2022.Fred Lum/The Globe and Mail
Mr. Kenney said he is going to be associated with a group called Vote to Stay, which plans to register as a third-party advertiser during the referendum campaign and whose membership includes former Conservative MP Monte Solberg.
But, beyond the efforts of that group, he said that he will make the case against Alberta leaving Canada wherever possible.
“I’m just going to use my voice whenever I am called on and wherever I can,” he said. “I’ll go wherever I am called on.”
The prominent Canadian conservative acknowledged that he has a record in public life that may appeal to some and frustrate others. However, he said that he wouldn’t speak out if he thought he would be an impediment to the cause.
“I think I am probably an unpopular and even provocative figure for people on the hard left, who remember my lifetime of conservative principles and activism, and similarly people on the hard right, who resented my support for vaccines and federalism, but those are the least persuadable groups in this referendum.
Don’t give Alberta separatists space to gain traction, Stéphane Dion warns
“We need to address mainstream, centre-right conservatives,” he said. “I think I am pretty well positioned to speak to the most persuadable voters, who are the frustrated federalists who happen to be generally conservatives.”
Mr. Kenney says he hopes federal Conservatives and provincial UCP members will see the effort for Canadian unity as an opportunity, and not a threat.
“If there are elected people who duck and dodge on this, the mainstream majority who are going to vote to stay in Canada will take note.
“There has been a real risk that the Liberal Party, on this issue, could position itself as the voice of Canada to the disadvantage of the Conservative Party of Canada, so I just think that for all sorts of reasons, principled reasons, prudent political reasons, they should very much be at the front of the parade,” he said of Conservative politicians.
That, Mr. Kenney said, includes federal Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, who represents an Alberta riding he won in a by-election after losing the Ottawa-area seat he had held throughout his career in federal politics in last year’s election.
Opinion: Danielle Smith is playing a dangerous game with her referendum question on secession
“It’s an opportunity for Mr. Poilievre, born and raised in Alberta, representing a rural Alberta riding, to show real leadership, and not to be afraid of being booed or heckled at some events, and courageously making the case for Canada.”
When asked about the Alberta sovereignty vote, Mr. Carney, federal cabinet ministers and other members of the federal Liberal caucus have been talking about efforts by the government to make the federation work for Alberta.
At this point, there does not appear to be a federal masterplan for making the case for Canada in the referendum.
At a news conference in Ottawa last week, Corey Hogan, one of three Alberta MPs in the Liberal caucus, said “there are discussions ongoing” on how the government should respond.
“Much more to come on this. We’ve already begun conversations on all of this. I think as a nation and certainly as an Alberta caucus, we’ve not been quiet,” he said. “We’re facing something pretty wild and it’s only 144 days away.”
