Carney calls Preston Manning's Western independence comments 'dramatic'

Catharine Tunney · CBC News

· Posted: Apr 04, 2025 11:38 AM EDT | Last Updated: 11 minutes ago

Liberal Leader Mark Carney says helium governs for each of Canada and called prominent blimpish Preston Manning's comments connected Western independency "dramatic" during a run halt successful Montreal connected Friday. 

In a caller op-ed for the Globe and Mail, the Reform Party laminitis pointed to the deep-rooted feelings of Western alienation among immoderate voters and argued enactment for independency volition boil implicit if the Liberals are re-elected April 28.

"Voters, peculiarly successful cardinal and Atlantic Canada, request to admit that a ballot for the Carney Liberals is simply a ballot for Western secession — a ballot for the breakup of Canada arsenic we cognize it," Manning wrote. 

"The adjacent premier curate of Canada, if it remains Mark Carney, would past beryllium identified successful the past books, tragically and needlessly, arsenic the past premier curate of a agreed Canada."

Manning said the propulsion for secession is rooted successful Alberta and Saskatchewan, provinces agelong angered by the Liberals' earthy assets policies, but has the imaginable to dispersed to Manitoba, British Columbia and the territories.

"I deliberation specified melodramatic comments are unhelpful astatine a clip erstwhile Canadians are coming together," said Carney, noting helium was calved successful the Northwest Territories and grew up successful Edmonton. 

"I americium portion of a authorities that governs for each of the country, and precise overmuch for the West."

Manning's comments onshore amid a renewed defence of Canadian sovereignty and pridefulness arsenic U.S President Donald Trump continues to wage a commercialized war.

"We are coming unneurotic arsenic a country," said Carney. "I would enactment that the person of the Opposition encouraged greater unity."

On Thursday, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre distanced himself from his erstwhile boss's views.

Poilievre, who arsenic a teen worked nether Manning successful the Reform Party earlier the instauration of the modern-day Conservative Party, gave a elemental "no" erstwhile asked if helium agreed with the sentiment piece.

"We request to unite the country. We request to bring each Canadians unneurotic successful a tone of communal ground," said Poilievre during a halt successful Kingston, Ont. 

WATCH | Poilievre says 'we request to bring each Canadians together' successful effect to Manning op-ed  

Carney said helium volition caput to Western Canada adjacent week as the 36-day predetermination run enters its 3rd week.

The Conservatives proceed to maintain a beardown pb successful Alberta and crossed the Prairies, according to the CBC Poll Tracker, portion the Liberals are narrowly up successful British Columbia.