Canada’s premiers gathered Tuesday for a First Ministers’ Meeting that reinforced, rather than redefined, the country’s ongoing political divide over energy development, trade infrastructure, and national unity.
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith renewed her push for a new oil pipeline to the British Columbia coast, tying the issue directly to national cohesion. “A bitumen pipeline will be by far the greatest benefit to all of Canada,” Smith said. “If it’s not on the list of fast-tracked projects, it sends a bad signal on national unity.”
Ontario Premier Doug Ford advocated for increased investment in nuclear energy and road access to Ontario’s mineral-rich Ring of Fire region. He also highlighted internal trade barriers, pointing to recent progress on interprovincial alcohol sales as an example of “Team Canada” cooperation.
British Columbia’s Deputy Premier, Niki Sharma, offered a more cautious view. She reiterated the province’s position that it will not back new pipelines without clear private-sector proponents and Indigenous support. “We’re focused on shovel-ready projects,” Sharma said. “That means those with investment, First Nations alignment, and clear economic value.”
Quebec Premier François Legault also struck a conditional tone. “If there’s a project going through Quebec, we’ll study it,” he said, adding that the province must weigh economic benefits against environmental impact.
The ongoing tension between resource-producing provinces and those with more restrictive environmental policies was evident throughout the meeting. Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe said Canada must correct regulatory inefficiencies that have deterred investment. “Policies matter,” Moe said. “We need changes to provide certainty and attract capital.”
Moe reaffirmed his support for a west-to-east trade corridor connecting British Columbia’s ports to the Port of Churchill on Hudson Bay — a proposal first floated years ago but now gaining renewed attention. “This is about improving access to Asian and European markets for all provinces,” he said.
Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew, dealing with a significant wildfire crisis in his province, focused on emergency coordination and long-term investments in firefighting capacity. “We’re moving more than 17,000 people to safety,” Kinew said. “We need more water bombers and we need a national strategy.”
In Atlantic Canada, premiers highlighted the need for energy reliability and transmission upgrades. New Brunswick’s Susan Holt framed infrastructure investment as central to national growth. “This is about connecting the country,” she said. “Nation-building includes pipelines, yes, but also electricity and trade infrastructure.”
Prince Edward Island Premier Rob Lantz spoke in favour of regional energy security efforts. “We’ve led in renewables, but we need grid upgrades to stay competitive,” he said, while expressing support for broader interprovincial cooperation.
Leaders from the northern territories emphasized that calls for Arctic infrastructure and sovereignty investment are long overdue. “Nation-building hasn’t been completed in the North,” said Nunavut Premier P.J. Akeeagok. “We need deep-sea ports, roads, and transmission lines — and many of these projects are being led by Indigenous partners.”
Yukon Premier Ranj Pillai added that while rhetoric around sovereignty and Arctic security has increased in recent years, federal investment has not kept pace. “We’re waiting to see if these policy positions translate into action,” he said.
Northwest Territories Premier R.J. Simpson warned against the risk of political fallout if only a small number of projects are prioritized. “Not everyone will get what they want,” he said, “but if a project is good for the country, we should support it, even if it’s not our own.”
The federal government is expected to release a list of fast-tracked projects following the meeting. While the language of “Team Canada” cooperation was repeated throughout the day, the underlying disagreements around energy exports and environmental policy remain unresolved.
As Smith put it, “This is not just a minor disagreement. Oil is Canada’s most valuable export. If we leave it in the ground, we’re leaving behind $9 trillion in potential value.”