‘We must work together’: Eby says of Alberta separation after meeting with Smith, western premiers

Premiers from Western Canada wrapped up a two-day conference in Yellowknife Thursday. While they gathered to talk about cooperation, pipelines, emergency preparedness, trade, Arctic sovereignty, energy security, housing and economic corridors; talks turned to separation, specifically Alberta leaving Canada.

“If Prime Minister Mark Carney acts on the ideas in our communique today, that would take the wind right out of any effort. The frustration that Alberta has, is that it’s a lot easier to do business with our southern neighbour than to do business across the country,” said Alberta Premier Danielle Smith.

Premiers from British Columbia, the prairie provinces and the northern territories addressed the media after concluding their annual meeting. The gathering came two weeks before Prime Minister Mark Carney gathers with all Canada’s premiers in Saskatoon.

While both the leaders of Alberta and Saskatchewan spoke about grievances with Canada, British Columbia Premier David Eby made a clear statement for the unity of the country.

“We must work together. And there is no worse time for us to get dragged into conversations about splitting up the country or this kind of thing, when in front of us is all this opportunity,” he said.

Despite separation talk, the premiers agreed on increasing inter-provincial trade and energy corridors. Smith also wants to revive the very controversial Northern Gateway oil pipeline to the B.C. coast.

Premier Eby said his province will cross that bridge if Smith is able to convince the federal government, or a private proponent, to build another pipeline through B.C.

A new poll on separation from Leger found 29 per cent of Albertans want independence; and an additional six per cent say Manitoba, Saskatchewan and B.C. should join forces to form a western Canada country.

But Stewart Prest, a political scientist from The University of British Columbia believes there is very little support for that in his province. 

“There is a much greater likelihood that talk of separatism is going to create additional resistance to Alberta’s projects and demands than to create good sentiment,” he said.

Some in Alberta’s capital told CityNews Thursday they believe the idea of separation is ridiculous.

“We are a landlocked province, so we are going to have to deal with Canada anyway, so we can’t fully separate,” Zac Smith said.

“I think we have a good deal. I don’t see anything wrong with our deal,” John Reid said of Alberta’s relationship with Canada.

Others agreed with the separatist movement that there is at least a basis for that anger, including equalization.

“There is some frustration over here that I think would behoove those out east to pay attention to and address,” said Dylan Nicholson.

“It does make people take us a little more seriously, while at the same time diminishing whatever street cred or value we have on a national stage,” said Ryan Garner.

The premiers agreed that the west is the economic engine of the country and plan to take that argument to a meeting with the prime minister and other premiers next month — where unity building projects to battle Donald Trump’s trade tariffs will be at the top of the agenda.

— with files from Canadian Press