B.C. Premier David Eby accepted a pair of cowboy boots from his Alberta counterpart but the gift didn’t seem to ease tensions Monday, as western premiers gathered in Kananaskis to begin two days of meetings. Planned as a chance to discuss removing inter provincial trade barriers and responding to U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariffs, the agenda has been hijacked by talk of Alberta separatism. That topic became even more front-of-mind after Premier Danielle Smith announced last week her government would hold a referendum on whether to vote to leave the country. “To say that this is the worst time to begin testing the bonds that hold this country together is a significant understatement,” Eby told reporters Monday. “These topics seem at best confusing, if not totally awkward, in light of the referendum question that Premier Smith has put forward,” Eby said. Smith defended her decision, drawing a comparison to a referendum held in British Columbia in 2011. “B.C. had to have a referendum on the (Harmonized Sales Tax) because 700,000 people asked for one,” she said. “We’ve had 700,000 people who’ve asked to have the question whether to remain in Canada or leave Canada— and so, I’m following our law.” Prime Minister Mark Carney also weighed in Monday, making clear his concerns about the referendum. “Vote for this and it’s a free option. Vote for this and it will strengthen our hand in future negotiations—that is a very dangerous bluff,” he said. The other source of underlying tension is Alberta’s push for a pipeline to the west coast, a plan B.C. emphatically resisted, but one that appears to be closer to approval from Ottawa. Former B.C. Premier, Christy Clark says the meeting will likely be derailed by these simmering conflicts between Eby and Smith. “I think between the two of them they’re kind of in this standoff, neither of them is working in the better interests of Canada,” Clark said. The Western Premiers summit ends Tuesday. Serious separation talk will be around until at least October, when the referendum takes place. Leaders of British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, the Northwest Territories and the Yukon are attending the two-day conference in Kananaskis in person, while Nunavut’s premier was to participate virtually.
