Frenemies for Canada: Ex-Alberta premiers join hands to keep province from separating

Two former political foes in Alberta are joining hands to try to keep the province from separating.

And one of them says when it comes to Canada, it’s a no-brainer.

“I’m always happy to put patriotism ahead of partisanship,” former premier Jason Kenney said Tuesday in an interview.

“Everyone knows that Rachel Notley and I have had profound policy disagreements over the years, but we both love our country and love the fact that Alberta is a key part of Canada’s success.”

Kenney was premier under the United Conservative Party, defeating Notley’s NDP government in 2019.

The two are now co-chairing a Canadian Chamber of Commerce campaign to make the case for why the country should stay united.

Albertans are scheduled to vote in a referendum on Oct. 19 on whether they want the province to stay in Canada or to kick-start the process for a second, binding vote on separation.

Kenney was known for reversing a number of Notley’s NDP policies. He cut corporate taxes, cancelled a health super lab, and repealed a provincial consumer carbon tax.

Kenney said he hasn’t spoken with Notley yet but that the two have been exchanging emails. He said he has also been on a panel or two with her over the last few months.

“I would say we’re frenemies,” he said.

“We’ve had frank and sometimes funny exchanges at a couple of events. But I’ve always respected her … as a very competent woman, a very committed Albertan.

“So while I disagree with her policy agenda, I would never for one make that personal.”

Kenney has been outspoken all summer condemning the separatist push in Alberta as a fringe movement that threatens to undermine the resolution of legitimate provincial grievances with the federal government.

Kenney said he and Notley will be speaking out and attending chamber events to make sure the message gets out for those who don’t want to leave Canada but want Ottawa to know they’re unhappy.

The message, Kenney said, is “be careful what you ask for.”

Kenney pointed to Quebec, which has dealt with the long-term economic and business uncertainty that comes with long-running talk of separation.

“No one’s going to be able to dissuade the super hardcore separatists,” he added.

Kenney said there’s power in diverse political viewpoints.

“People who are right-of-centre are typically not going to be persuaded by Rachel Notley, and people who are generally left-of-centre are not going to be persuaded by me. But between us, we can cover a pretty broad spectrum of Alberta.”

Notley, in a statement, said she and Kenney disagree on plenty of things but agree the referendum is bad for business in Alberta and bad timing during the escalating trade war with the United States.

“We’ll no doubt be standing shoulder to shoulder on this up until we can put it to bed once and for all,” Notley said.

“Then we can get back to respectfully debating issues from opposing sides in a healthy democracy, which is kind of the whole point we’re making here.”

Notley has blamed Premier Danielle Smith’s UCP government for foisting what Notley calls a separatist agenda on Albertans.

The chamber said campaign details are still being worked out but that it will be driven by discussions between the co-chairs and members.

“With geopolitical and economic uncertainty reshaping global trade and investment, Canada will be only better off with greater economic co-operation — not less,” chamber president Candace Laing said in a statement.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 25, 2026.

Lisa Johnson and Bill Graveland, The Canadian Press