'Albertans know that they have options': Alberta Tory MPs warn Carney not to ignore threat of separatism

OTTAWA — With the House of Commons back in full swing, Conservative MPs from Alberta are sounding the alarm on rising separatist tensions in the province, warning Prime Minister Mark Carney to tackle the problem or reckon with a fractured country.  Calgary MP Shuvaloy Majumdar blasted Carney on Tuesday for leaving the first ministers’ meeting in Saskatoon without giving Alberta a firm commitment on oil and gas pipelines and other energy infrastructure. “Yesterday, the prime minister committed to more rhetoric, more lofty words, and no actual (oil and gas) project,” said Majumdar in Tuesday’s question period. “Alberta’s heard all this before. We don’t need headlines, we need results.” Majumdar told the National Post it’s time for Carney to back up his words with actions, after campaigning on an implicit promise to repair the rift between Ottawa and Alberta created by his Liberal predecessor Justin Trudeau. “This is all about the pressure of resentment that has built up after (Trudeau spent) 10 years attacking the energy industry in Alberta,” said Majumdar. “The prime minister ran on addressing those issues, lifting things from the Conservative playbook… The solution here is for (him) to deliver what he’s promising, lest he risk a constitutional crisis.” Newly elected rural Alberta MP David Bexte said in his maiden speech last week that “Alberta separatism is no longer a fringe idea.” “I heard (separatist talk) at the doors more times than I can count, and I’ll tell you plainly… Albertans know that they have options,” said Bexte. “If this House continues to insult, neglect and abuse Alberta… then the future of this country is not guaranteed.” Bexte declined a request to be interviewed for this story. Departing Battle River—Crowfoot MP Damien Kurek sounded the same warning in his farewell speech to Parliament, imploring all members of the House to “fight for Canada.” “We face a national unity crisis. It is not something that can be flippantly dismissed by those in other parts of the country that would suggest that Alberta, for example, should simply pay up and shut up,” said Kurek. “Alberta deserves a fair voice in the federation, just like every province.” Kurek announced shortly after April’s election that he would vacate his seat to give Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, who lost his own Ottawa-area seat, an opportunity to run in a byelection. A recent poll conducted by Leger found that Conservative voters are highly sympathetic to Alberta’s grievances, with 77 per cent saying they understand the province’s desire for independence. A further 43 per cent of Conservatives said they’d support Alberta becoming independent from Canada. The Conservative party dominated Alberta in April’s election, winning 34 of 37 seats and nearly two-thirds of the popular vote . Majumdar said the Conservative caucus remains strongly pro-Canada, despite the shift in public opinion. “I think we all have the same view… that we want to see a Canada that works for all Canadians,” said Majumdar. Carney, who grew up in Edmonton, has been mum on the threat of a referendum on Alberta’s independence, addressing the topic just once since the election, during a visit to Washington, D.C. last month . “Canada is stronger when we work together ,” Carney told reporters. “ As an Albertan, I firmly believe you can always ask, but I know how I would respond.” Carney made a brief stop in Calgary over the weekend to meet with oil and gas executives  and will be back in Alberta later this month when he hosts the G7 leaders’ summit in the Rocky Mountain resort town of Kananaskis. National Post rmohamed@postmedia.com Get more deep-dive National Post political coverage and analysis in your inbox with the Political Hack newsletter, where Ottawa bureau chief Stuart Thomson and political analyst Tasha Kheiriddin get at what’s really going on behind the scenes on Parliament Hill every Wednesday and Friday, exclusively for subscribers. Sign up here. Our website is the place for the latest breaking news, exclusive scoops, longreads and provocative commentary. Please bookmark nationalpost.com and sign up for our daily newsletter, Posted, here.