Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney is facing a challenge these days, one that is important to both the country’s unity and economy. Some people in the province of Alberta, located in the west of Canada, want to separate from the country and create their own new country. A referendum on this demand is to be held on 19 October 2026. Meanwhile, Carney has specifically appealed to people of Indian origin not to vote in favor of secession from Canada.

Mark Carney spoke on RedFM Calgary, a popular Punjabi-speaking radio station, about strong ties with India, trade deals and Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Canada in December. His message is clear that Alberta can thrive while remaining in Canada and new business opportunities can open up with a large market like India. Now the question is, why is Carney giving so much importance to the Indian community in this matter?

Why is Carney targeting Alberta Indians?

One reason for this is the large presence of people of Indian origin living in Alberta. Another reason is that the demand for secession is not only a political issue, but also linked to oil, gas, employment, trade and the future of the province. Alberta is the center of Canada’s energy sector. If the process of creating a separate country goes ahead here, it may affect the country’s politics and trade. On the other hand, talks are going on between India and Canada to increase trade.

In such a situation, Carney wants to convince Alberta people that they can still benefit from energy trade and foreign markets after staying with Canada. However, it would not be fair to assume that all people of Indian origin have the same mindset.

Why is the demand for detached country growing in Alberta?

1. Oil and Gas Earnings: Alberta has large reserves of oil and natural gas. Supporters of secession say local people’s voice should be given more weight in decisions about the province’s earnings and resources.
2. Discontent against the Central Government: Some people demanding a separate country feel that their issues are not given enough importance in Canada’s capital, Ottawa. There are also long-standing differences over the federal government’s energy and environmental policies.
3. Desire for a different identity: Some supporters want Alberta to make its own economic and political decisions. However, not all people in the province are in favor of a separate country. Both Prime Minister Carney and Alberta Premier Daniel Smith have supported staying with Canada.

3 lakh people applied for plebiscite

According to a January 2026 Ipsos survey, 28% of Alberta residents supported secession from Canada. The economic strength of the province and issues related to oil and gas are also important behind this demand. According to Oil Dashboard data, Alberta has approximately 165 billion barrels of oil reserves.

Demands for the province’s secession from Canada also rose in 2018, when demonstrations in support and opposition took place. Earlier this year, nearly 3 lakh people signed a petition demanding a referendum on the issue of secession. Now the debate has gained momentum once again regarding this demand.

Will Alberta become a separate country?

The vote on October 19 is not directly on independence. In this, people will be asked whether Alberta should remain part of Canada or whether the provincial government should begin the legal process of holding a binding referendum on secession. This meant that Alberta would not become a new country the next day, even if the vote was in favor of secession.

Separation under Canadian law would require further negotiations and constitutional changes. In this, issues related to the rights of the federal government of Canada, other provinces and indigenous communities will also be important. Therefore, this vote is not a final decision to become a separate country, but a possible step forward in that direction.

How many Indians live in Alberta?

According to Canada’s 2021 census, about 2.98 million people of South Asian origin lived in Alberta. This group includes Indians, Pakistanis, Sri Lankans and other South Asian communities. Over the past five years, more than 31,800 people from India immigrated to the province, accounting for about 16 percent of recent immigrants. Carney used Calgary’s Punjabi radio station to reach the Indian community.

Why does Carney need Indians?

A large number of Punjabi speaking people live here. According to the report, radio host Rishi Nagar said that the feeling of being with Canada was more evident among the people of Indian origin he came in contact with. However, this is an assessment based on their conversations, not a survey of the community as a whole. This issue also concerns Indian students and temporary workers. Five of the 10 referendum questions are related to immigration and government facilities.

Some proposals include imposing conditions on health services, education and other government facilities for people who do not have permanent citizenship or permanent residency. These questions are separate from those directly related to becoming a separate country, but may be important to the future of Indians living in Alberta.

Why is Carney referring to the trade agreement with India?

Good relations with India are a key part of Carney’s appeal. He has said that India and Canada can enhance cooperation in areas such as energy, education, agriculture, artificial intelligence, aviation and people-to-people contact. The two countries are negotiating the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA). Carney said Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Canada for two days in December.

Trade with India is also important for Alberta as the province is a major producer of oil and gas. Carney mentioned a plan to sell the oil in Asian markets by transporting the oil through a pipeline to the Port of Vancouver. India can also be a potential market in this.

Carney argues that staying with the rest of Canada would allow Alberta to benefit from a larger market, trade agreements and the country’s shared economic strength. On the other hand, proponents of secession believed that the province could exercise greater control over its resources and earnings. There is a real debate between the two sides over which path will be better for Alberta’s future.