Former Alberta Premier Jason Kenney and former Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper have spoken out against the Alberta separatist movement in recent weeks, underscoring their commitment to Canadian federalism amid growing calls for the province’s independence.

Kenney, a vocal critic of the separatist movement and its leadership, recently joined forces with former Alberta Premier Rachel Notley and the Canadian Chamber of Commerce to launch the “Stronger Together” campaign. The initiative aims to promote the economic and political benefits of Alberta remaining part of Canada. In announcing the campaign, Kenney emphasized the interconnectedness of Alberta’s interests with the broader national business community, represented by the Chamber’s network of hundreds of thousands of businesses of varying sizes.

“The national business community represented by the Canadian Chamber is an integrated network of hundreds of thousands of businesses of all sizes who know Alberta’s interests and theirs go hand in hand,” Kenney stated, reinforcing the campaign’s message that unity benefits both Alberta and the country.

Meanwhile, Harper, who had previously been reticent to weigh in publicly on the separatist issue, took a more direct stance in recent weeks ahead of a referendum on Alberta’s potential separation. In an unusual move, the former Conservative prime minister spoke at an investment summit hosted by current Prime Minister Mark Carney last month, signaling his opposition to the independence movement.

In a recent op-ed, Harper articulated his view that Alberta pursuing separation would carry significant risks without clear benefits. He argued that Alberta’s focus should instead be on advocating for increased provincial powers within the existing federation and pushing for reforms at the federal level.

“I see no benefit and significant risk for Alberta to go down that path today,” Harper wrote. “I believe Albertans’ energies are far better employed pushing for change in Ottawa and for the exercise of greater power by Alberta itself. Such efforts are far more likely to produce actual, positive results.”

Both Kenney and Harper’s interventions come at a critical moment when debates over Alberta’s future and its place within Canada continue to intensify. Their joint emphasis on leveraging economic integration and political reform reflects an effort to counter separatist momentum by highlighting the potential drawbacks of division and the opportunities available through federal collaboration.