Today I spoke directly to Albertans following yesterday’s referendum vote. Alberta will remain in Canada, and for as long as I serve as premier, there will not be another referendum on the issue of separation. I’m also pleased that Albertans also gave our government a mandate to take greater control over immigration, to ensure temporary residents pay their share of the services they use and to require proof of citizenship to vote. Those reforms are coming, and they will strengthen Alberta’s autonomy. Now is the time to move forward not as a people divided by how we voted yesterday, but as neighbours, friends, Albertans and Canadians. Together, we will keep Alberta and Canada forever strong and free.

Thank you, Alberta! I’m very pleased to see the initial results from Elections Alberta show widespread support for remaining in Canada. Albertans have voted for a stronger Alberta in a united Canada. Thank you to all Albertans who took time to vote on these critically important referendum questions.   Tomorrow evening, October 20, I will address Albertans live at 6:45 p.m. to discuss the results of all referendum questions for which results are available, and where our province goes from here.

On the ground at the Provincial Emergency Coordination Centre this afternoon with Deputy Premier and Minister of Public Safety Mike Ellis, Minister of Hospital and Surgical Health Services Adriana LaGrange and federal Minister of National Defence David McGuinty and Acute Care Alberta interim CEO Dr. Sayeh Zielke. We have just provided an update on the fire at CFB Wainwright. Four members of the Canadian Armed Forces have lost their lives in service to our country. Many more are injured and in recovery across our hospitals. Every part of the response is being coordinated, from first responders through to the hospitals treating the injured and the critical care teams working right now. Alberta stands with our Canadian Armed Forces and will provide whatever support is requested. To those recovering and to the families grieving today, all of Alberta is with you.

Alberta is mourning alongside the Canadian Armed Forces and the families, friends and colleagues of those affected by the tragic incident at Canadian Forces Base Wainwright yesterday. The loss of life and injuries are heartbreaking. On behalf of the Government of Alberta, I extend my deepest condolences to the families who have lost loved ones and wish those who have been injured a full recovery. Our thoughts are also with the military personnel, families and colleagues facing uncertainty and grief during this incredibly difficult time. We are deeply grateful to the first responders, paramedics, physicians, nurses and hospital teams across Alberta who have mobilized to provide care to those injured. Albertans should all be incredibly proud of their frontline health care workers and our acute care system that has managed this mass casualty event. We’re also thankful to our neighbours in Saskatchewan who did not hesitate to support our response with additional air ambulance capacity, and to other provinces who have reached out offering their support and condolences. I will be traveling to Edmonton today to meet with provincial ministers and federal officials. The Government of Alberta continues to work closely with the federal government and local authorities. We have convened our Emergency Management Cabinet Coordination Committee and the Provincial Emergency Coordination Centre (PECC) has been activated to a level 3. As a mark of respect for those who have lost their lives and in solidarity with the military community and their families, flags at provincial government buildings across Alberta will be lowered to half-mast. In the days ahead, our thoughts will remain with everyone affected by this tragedy. Alberta stands with the Canadian Armed Forces, the people of Wainwright and all those grieving during this difficult time.

The Prime Minister and I have found common ground on many things over the last 18 months. However, it appears that he has yet to fully understand just how damaging the open-border policies of his predecessor were. Those policies caused Canada’s cost of living to skyrocket, overwhelmed our social services, and made homes and jobs unattainable for thousands of young Canadians. That’s why I’m encouraging Albertans to vote ‘yes to the rest’ to give our government a strong mandate to take more control over our immigration system, so that we can prioritize economic migrants, put Albertans first for jobs, and ensure Albertans’ social services are sustainable. We’re also asking for a strong mandate to work with willing provinces to reform the courts, abolish the senate, and protect provincial jurisdiction. I look forward to hearing from Albertans on October 19th.

Advance polls are open until Saturday. Make sure to get out your vote in the referendum. I’ll be voting for Option 1 to remain in Canada on question 10. I’m voting Option 1 because standing up for Alberta and refusing to back down is working. The emissions cap is gone. C-69 no longer applies to our energy projects. Pacific Link is moving forward. We are getting results and we need to keep going. And on questions 1 through 9, I’m voting YES. Alberta needs more authority to make decisions in our own interests, support more sustainable immigration and protect the social services Albertans rely on. To find out where to vote, visit: elections.ab.ca/current-elec…