Stockwell Day supports Alberta vote on separation, warns it’s dangerous for Tories

OTTAWA — Former Conservative member of Parliament Stockwell Day says Alberta separatism poses a threat to the federal Conservative party — which risks seeing a return to the kind of vote-splitting that was common before the party united in 2003.

Day, who was part of Stephen Harper’s cabinet from 2006 to 2011, says he’s “as outraged and upset” as the people behind the Alberta separation movement and he thinks holding a referendum is a good idea.

Read More:

• Separation referendum would be ‘bad for the country’: Calgary Chamber of Commerce
• Saskatchewan NDP’s anti-separation bill dies as legislative session wraps up
• Moe says letter to prime minister an ‘opportunity’ not an ultimatum

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith’s government introduced a bill earlier this month to make it easier to launch a citizen-initiated referendum — including a vote on separating from Canada.

The legislation has faced backlash from Indigenous leaders, who say that no such referendum vote could overturn the treaties that cover much of the province.

Day says he doesn’t think separatists would get 50 per cent support from Albertans in a referendum.

But he says the federal Liberal government needs to listen to Western Canadians who feel they aren’t getting a fair deal from Ottawa.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 16, 2025.

Sarah Ritchie, The Canadian Press