Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has branded Alberta’s vote on whether to hold an independence referendum a "dangerous bluff", likening it to Brexit.
Mr Carney, who was the Governor of the Bank of England in 2016 when Britain decided to leave the European Union, warned that a decade on, the UK was still "trying to undo what people didn’t think they were voting for, but what they ended up having".
His comments resonate as Sir Keir Starmer moves to reset relations with Brussels, while potential leadership challengers, former health secretary Wes Streeting and Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham, have both spoken of wanting to rejoin the bloc.
Danielle Smith, leader of Canada’s oil-rich western province of Alberta, announced last week that a vote would be held on October 19 on whether it should stay part of the country or move towards holding a binding referendum on breaking away.
Mr Carney said: “In these separation issues, it is often advanced that, ‘Vote for this and it is a free option’, ‘Vote for this, and we will strengthen our hand in a future negotiation’. That is a very dangerous bluff.
“I saw first hand what happened in the United Kingdom when the view was, ‘Vote for this, it’ll be soft and then we’ll negotiate, etc’.
“They’re still 10 years later trying to undo what people didn’t think they were voting for, but what they ended up having.”
Ms Smith has said she supports Alberta remaining in Canada.
Some have compared her stance to then British prime minister David Cameron, who called the Brexit referendum in order to silence internal Tory dissent while wanting to stay part of the EU.
He resigned following the vote to leave.
Ms Smith’s party did not run on a platform of holding a referendum in the last provincial election campaign.
Mr Carney said: “Is it the democratic will of Albertans? Did they vote for this in the last provincial election? No, they didn’t. It wasn’t on the ballot paper.”
He pointed out his government was working on getting an oil pipeline built from Alberta to Canada’s Pacific coast, aimed at responding to Albertan complaints that not enough had been done to help exports.
Mr Carney said: “We have to be very careful about this. There’s a very strong positive case for Canada, a strong Alberta in a united Canada.
“I look forward to making that case with many, many other Albertans and Canadians over the course of the next 150 days.”
Ms Smith said people’s frustrations had been fuelled by the “disastrous policies” of the previous Canadian leader Justin Trudeau.
She said: “I would also remind all Canadians that we should not dismiss the legitimate grievances of Albertans.
“Instead, we should focus on addressing these issues, restoring hope in Canada, and demonstrating that our country can work and is working.”
