Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says Prime Minister Mark Carney has the power to squash a separatist movement. Smith made the remarks Thursday afternoon as she wrapped up a meeting in Yellowknife with Canada’s western premiers, who said in a joint statement they’ve agreed to identify, plan and develop new economic corridors to connect provincial resources to international markets. During an afternoon press conference, Smith emphasized Carney is the one with the ability to make this happen and keep Canada united. The leaders from British Columbia, the Prairie provinces and the northern territories, after meeting for two days, say they are focused on projects that create national unity, help build up the country and transport Canada’s natural resources to Europe and Asia. National unity has been on many people’s minds, especially with Smith putting forward a bill to make it easier to call a referendum on separation. She says if the prime minister acts on the ideas that are coming out of this meeting, it would take the wind out of the sails of a separatist movement. “(We’re) talking about how we can help each other, talking about how we can trade with each other, how we can work together to create new economic corridors so we can all get our various projects to markets,” Smith said. “If we can find some support from the federal government on that, I think that’s all that the people of Alberta have been looking for.” Last week, when CTV News asked Carney about his thoughts on building pipelines, he simply said, ‘yes,’ and added building a pipeline is just one element of making Canada an energy superpower. The premiers say it’s time for western Canada to become the country’s economic engine and say building new infrastructure for resource development will be beneficial for all Canadians. “Nation-building infrastructure in Western Canada, such as highways, railways, ports, airports, pipelines, nuclear projects and electricity transmission systems, are crucial for driving Canadian productivity growth, energy security and economic competitiveness,” says the statement from the western leaders. “This includes developing and transporting oil and gas, liquefied natural gas, uranium, electricity and hydroelectricity to Canadian and world markets, as well as in emerging opportunities such as hydrogen, biofuels and small modular nuclear reactors.” The annual meeting comes two weeks before all of the country’s premiers are to meet with Carney in Saskatoon. The western premiers are specifically asking for Ottawa’s help in connecting ports on the west coast to the coast of Hudson Bay. They say new federal funding programs will be necessary to reach their goals. Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe said the western conference felt like “the start of a generationally beneficial discussion” that he hopes will continue when the premiers meet with Carney. The joint statement says the premiers also spoke about housing, Arctic security, emergency preparedness and public safety, and they called for federal action on all files. While the premiers put on a united front in their statement, some told reporters they couldn’t agree on everything. B.C. Premier David Eby said Alberta Premier Danielle Smith’s recent calls for the revival of the Northern Gateway pipeline project — which would’ve connected Alberta oil to the northern coast of B.C. — and the cancelling of the B.C. north coast tanker ban are premature. “In British Columbia, we have a pipeline that’s publicly owned, that was put through over the objections of British Columbia — the Trans Mountain pipeline. And it is not operating at capacity,” Eby said. “If the urgency is to get product to tidewater, then I would start there with the conversations with the federal government about ensuring that this publicly owned infrastructure is used to its full capacity. And that seems like a great place to start, rather than opening up the pristine north coast to tanker traffic.” Eby, speaking at a later news conference, said B.C. and the Yukon made a separate agreement to work together to support electrification in the territory. “In the Yukon right now, they face major challenges accessing electricity. They’re very heavily reliant on diesel,” Eby said. “Electricity from B.C. would create jobs in B. C. and opportunity in British Columbia, as well as in the Yukon. And I’m looking forward to work with Premier (Ranj) Pillai on that.” Eby wasn’t the only one to disagree with Smith during the conference. Local media reported there were two protests Wednesday in opposition to Smith. The Dene Nation reportedly rallied to support treaty rights in the face of renewed talk of Alberta separation, while the other protested Smith’s suite of transgender legislation last year. Smith’s government has outlawed doctors from prescribing puberty blockers and hormone therapy to those under 16 while also banning transgender athletes from competing in amateur female sports. “Plainly stated it has become very unsafe to be (visibly) transgender in Alberta,” the Northern Mosaic Network, which organized the protest, said Tuesday in a public letter to Northwest Territories Premier R.J. Simpson. The group added that Alberta’s legislation has affected territory residents who are sent to Alberta for medical care. With files from CTV News Edmonton’s Evan Kenny and The Canadian Press
