P.E.I. premier optimistic Carney can rebuild bridges as Albertans talk separation

P.E.I.'s premier connected with Prime Minister Mark Carney this week for the first time since the federal election, as tensions around Alberta's independence continue to simmer.

Rob Lantz and Canada's other first ministers spoke virtually with Carney, and P.E.I.'s Progressive Conservative premier said interprovincial trade and "nation building" were high on the agenda. 

"There was a fair amount of discussion about the west being able to pursue their interests," Lantz said Thursday. 

"I think that's in the national interest of the economy and it's in the national interest of unity. I think there's a consensus right across the country that the western [provinces] need to be treated a bit differently." 

While the theme of national unity helped shape April's federal election as U.S. President Donald Trump's trade war continued, complete with threats to Canada's sovereignty, not every province has been feeling the warmth. 

Carney's Liberals won another mandate to form government on a national scale, but Pierre Poilievre's Conservatives swept nearly every riding in Alberta. 

That province's premier, Danielle Smith, has openly discussed the idea of a possible referendum on separating from Canada.

Smith has said she personally does not support her province separating from the federation, but she is proposing to lower the number of signatures needed to put a referendum question on the ballot in 2026, and said she would honour a valid petition to hold one. 

When asked about Smith's referendum legislation during a news conference this week, Carney, who grew up in Alberta, said Canada is stronger when the provinces work together.

'There's a real willingness'

Lantz said it's troubling to hear those discussions, while provinces like P.E.I. are trying to rally against U.S. tariffs, but he was optimistic that Carney can rebuild some bridges. 

"There was an acknowledgement from many of the premiers outside of the western premiers who maybe sympathize, I would say, with some of the frustration in the west," he said. "We can do better in this country in terms of self-reliance, energy independence, building our own economy from within. 

I think it couldn't have gone better, to be quite honest.— P.E.I. Premier Rob Lantz on the Carney-Trump meeting

"So I think there's a real willingness there to work with our western premiers… to resolve those differences and strengthen our economy at the same time." 

The premiers will meet in person with the prime minister in Saskatoon next month.

Meanwhile, this week's meeting was also the first since Carney travelled to Washington to meet with Trump on Tuesday. 

Lantz said there is much work left to do in de-escalating the trade war between the two countries, but he added that there was optimism for more engagement with the American administration after this week. 

"Fair to say that the consensus was that we were all happy with how that meeting went. The tone of the meeting was good," he said. 

"[There was] a lot of anxiety about how it could've gone, and I think it couldn't have gone better, to be quite honest."