KANANASKIS — The Western premiers have concluded their conference in Kananaskis, Alta., with pledges to work out their differences, some of which were clearly still evident at their wrap-up news conference.
While there was clear tension seen from at least a couple of premiers on the upcoming Alberta referendum on independence, nevertheless all the premiers from the four Western provinces and three territories signed on to a joint communique Tuesday afternoon.
The first line of that communique seemed to touch on that looming Alberta independence issue. It reads that to "achieve the prosperity and change we want to see in this great country we need unity, certainty, and stability that enables each province and territory to develop their economies and export their resources to the world. We are all stronger as members of a united Canada. Premiers are committed to working together and with the federal government through challenging issues that have created frustration for many Western Canadians to create a more prosperous future."
In her remarks at the news conference to conclude the two days of discussions, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith said they had committed to “working together and with the federal government through challenging issues that have created frustration for many Western Canadians to create a more prosperous future.”
Among the key points in their communique was support for economic corridors as essential for unlocking the West's economic potential. Smith pointed to an unrivalled growing economy in Western and Northern Canada and said the focus of their discussions over the two days was on “how to position Western Canada as a global leader.”
She said the premiers were publicly releasing an Economic Corridors in Western Canada report, which “helps map the infrastructure and trade connections needed to unlock the West's full potential.” She said the report advances upon objectives achieved by Western premiers through the MOU signed in 2025.
“If Canada wants growth, resilience and expanding access to global markets, we need corresponding federal investment and partnership in a port-to-port-to-port strategy. We discussed prioritizing nation-building projects from pipelines, rail and ports to electricity transmission and trade corridors. We all agree that more federal investment and faster action are needed on these projects and we welcome the federal government's intention to advance reforms to accelerate project approvals which must be implemented through legislation and concrete policy changes.”
Smith also said the Western premiers also agreed on the importance of stable and predictable North American trade frameworks, saying they must “strengthen our current trade relationships while also making sure that we develop new partnerships across the globe.”
The growing importance of defence and national security in the west and the north was discussed, she said, as well as ensuring Western Canada had a “strong voice in advancing practical reforms that keep communities safe, support victims and strengthen frontline capacity.”
The premiers shared “deep concern and sorrow about the tragic events in Tumbler Ridge in February and discussed the need for federal legislation to address the needs for mandatory reporting of threats to protect communities.”
Finally, Smith said, they also discussed this year's wildfire season and the need for additional federal funding for Western provinces and territories to continue investing in disaster preparedness. She also noted the federal government just announced an investment in additional 10 firefighting helicopters that day.
“There are many points of agreement among us and we are firmly aligned on the need to continue to build a stronger, more competitive and secure Canada by fully realizing the strengths of the Western provinces and territories,” said Smith.
But it was clear that the referendum question that Smith was putting on the ballot this fall in Alberta — one on whether there should be a binding referendum in Alberta independence — was one some other premiers had issues with.
Among those was Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew, who said he came with an “important message from the First Nations of Canada on the question of Alberta separation.”
“I've heard loud and clear that Indigenous people from coast to coast to coast are prepared to use every treaty right at our disposal to ensure that Canada does not lose Conor McDavid,” Kinew said.
More to his point, Kinew spoke of his recent meeting with First Nations chiefs and said he had an opportunity to share with Smith “some of the concerns around s. 35 (of the Constitution) and the need for it to be respected.”
Kinew said he also had a message for the chiefs. “I'm a patriot. I love this country, and I just wanted to say thanks as a fellow Canadian for the leadership in the room who had stopped the referendum question from moving forward,” he said, referring to their court challenge to the referendum.
He also said that after that meeting he stopped at A&W and there was an older woman who was working there who said “tell our premier we don't want to separate from Canada. So I'm passing that message on to you and saying on behalf of the rest of Canada we're with that lady from A&W.”
Premier David Eby of British Columbia also had harsh words about a referendum question.
“I think the dominant question I was hearing in British Columbia is why is Alberta doing this? Why are they putting a referendum question forward about the future of the country? It's a question I brought here to Premier Smith to engage with her on this important question about the future of our country. I've expressed my concerns about it” said Eby.
“You know, I am really pleased that we were able to agree on language in this communique. All premiers, myself, Premier Smith, everybody across the table that a unified Canada is what enables all of the work that we want to do together to build a strong economy, to build the kind of country that we want. In the absence of a unified Canada, we will be poorer. We will not be as successful. We will give comfort to people who want to break up our country and sell it for parts.”
Eby also voiced concern after what he had seen happen in the United Kingdom a few years earlier.
“I remain incredibly anxious, frankly, about this. I've seen the Brexit referendum that was just supposed to be a chance for people to express the clarity that they wanted to stay part of the EU and it did not end up that way. I've communicated those anxieties to Premier Smith. She understands them. And my hope is that we can all come together and as a unified country address those concerns because we can address shared concerns together, just like a family, we can work it out together and we'll be stronger for it.”
For his part, Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe made it known he believed there had been significant changes in the relationship between provinces and the federal government on issues such as trade.
“I've seen that firsthand as I've been on a number of missions with them to other countries that are very important to not only the Saskatchewan economy and all of our provincial economies, but more broadly the economy of our nation of Canada,” said Moe.
“And so you see significant changes, albeit admittedly not perfect. But there is certainly an approach and a collaborative approach from the prime minister that I know that we can work with. And we won't get our way each and every time, nor will Premier Kinew, nor will Premier Smith, Premier Eby, premiers from our territories. You won't get your way every time. However, you will have the opportunity to have the conversation to make your case. And I think it's important to note that we will get our way sometimes in certain areas of the nation, and we will be able to build our economy in our provinces, each of our provinces, and access those markets around the world. And the very opening paragraph of the communique today speaks to the conversation that we had with that respect. “
Moe added that if .”we continue to work together, have those frank and civil conversations, speak about working together in the unity of our nation, giving everyone reason to want to be a part of our nation. And I certainly saw that in the room over the last day or day and a half. And I just say thank you to my provincial counterparts for, although we don't agree on everything, we can set aside, not set aside those divisions, work through those divisions to a better place for all of us.”
