Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney spoke in Calgary, Alberta, on Thursday. He asked people in Alberta to vote to stay in Canada. Alberta will hold a vote on Monday, 19 October. People will choose if Alberta should stay in Canada or start work to leave. Carney said the result is very important. More than 7,000 people came to hear him speak.

More than 450,000 people have already voted early or by mail. A group collected about 300,000 names to ask for the vote. Many people who want Alberta to leave say Canada’s government does not help Alberta enough. Alberta produces a lot of oil and gas. They say Alberta could keep more money if it became a separate country.

People who want Alberta to stay say leaving could bring debt, fewer jobs, and less business money. Carney said his government will help Alberta and its oil industry. He also plans to support a new oil pipe from Alberta to Canada’s west coast. Alberta Premier Danielle Smith and Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre will speak for Canada on Friday. People who want Alberta to leave will meet in Edmonton on Saturday. Surveys show most people may vote to stay, but the final result will depend on how many people vote.