Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney on Monday called a bid by the premier of Alberta to hold a referendum on separating from Canada a "dangerous bluff." He stated that asking such questions was "not helpful" and warned that the planned vote, while not binding, could backfire.
Carney urged Alberta's voters to be wary of separatists, citing his own experience leading the Bank of England during the Brexit referendum when Britain voted to leave the European Union.
He further noted that separation votes are often portrayed as a "free option" intended to strengthen a region's hand in future negotiations.