Carney to meet premiers in Saskatchewan June 2 amid tensions with the west

Catharine Tunney · CBC News

· Posted: May 07, 2025 3:03 PM EDT | Last Updated: 4 minutes ago

Prime Minister Mark Carney volition conscionable with the country's premiers adjacent period successful Saskatchewan — arsenic frustrations with Ottawa simmer for immoderate occidental leaders.

After speaking with Carney and his provincial counterparts virtually connected Wednesday, Ontario Premier Doug Ford told reporters they agreed to clasp a archetypal ministers' gathering successful the province adjacent month.

The Prime Minister's Office confirmed the gathering would hap June 2 successful Saskatoon. 

Ford called the roadworthy travel gathering an "olive branch" to the westbound and a measurement successful uniting the country. 

"I said it is clip that your authorities starts showing immoderate emotion to Saskatchewan and Alberta due to the fact that arsenic I said, the past premier curate showed nary love," Ford said.

"They person been treated terribly, to beryllium precise frank, and I deliberation the caller premier curate understands that and helium volition beryllium retired determination having a large conversation."

After Carney's comeback triumph past week, the 4th consecutive Liberal government, the Alberta and Saskatchewan premiers called for a reset successful however Ottawa treats the occidental provinces. 

The time aft the election, which saw the Liberals instrumentality with a number government, Premier Scott Moe held a quality league wherever helium said Ottawa needs to amended "engage and consult" Saskatchewan connected authorities and policies, including cleanable energy regulations and c pricing.

One state over, secession speech is bubbling to the surface. Alberta Premier Danielle Smith has said she personally does not enactment her state separating from the federation, but she is proposing to little the fig of signatures needed to put a referendum connected the ballot successful 2026.

WATCH | How is Alberta changing its referendum process?: 

Ford said premiers did not rise the referendum speech with Smith connected the call.

"I ever say, agreed we basal and divided we fall. That was my connection today," helium said. 

He said it's connected Carney to "show immoderate love" to the west. 

"Let's commencement diversifying our commercialized erstwhile it comes to oil," helium said. "Let's commencement gathering pipelines west, east, northbound and southbound arsenic well."

WATCH | Ford says he's not definite helium could amusement aforesaid restraint arsenic Carney: 

One of Carney's electoral promises is to marque Canada what helium calls an vigor "superpower" and velocity up infrastructure projects. 

The premiers' telephone with Carney comes a time aft his high-profile and intimately watched gathering with U.S. President Donald Trump successful the Oval Office. Ford said the premiers congratulated Carney connected showing restraint. 

"I don't deliberation I'd person the restraint that helium had yesterday to beryllium precise frank," said Ford.