Carney says Alberta referendum 'dangerous bluff' and likens to Brexit

Prime Minister Mark Carney has called the upcoming Alberta referendum on separation from Canada a "dangerous bluff", comparing it to the Brexit vote that saw the UK leave the European Union. Carney, who led the Bank of England during Brexit, said that 10 years on from the referendum the UK was "trying to undo what people didn't think they were voting for, but what they ended up having". He also cautioned against voting in favour of a separation vote as a way to strengthen Alberta's negotiating position with Ottawa, saying it may bring unintended consequences. Albertans will decide 19 October whether they want to remain part of Canada or hold a binding vote on separation at a later date. Speaking to reporters on Monday, Carney said he will be campaigning for Canadian unity in the coming months. "We have to be very careful about this," he said, adding: "There is a very strong, positive case for Canada, a strong Alberta in a united Canada." Supporters of Alberta independence believe that the oil-rich province has long been overlooked by decision-makers in Ottawa, the national capital, and that federal environmental policies have hindered its ability to build oil and gas pipelines and