Canada’s Unity Under Pressure: Premiers Wrap Ottawa Talks With Anti-Separation Messages and “Team Canada” Trade Plan
Latest news on WhatsApp أجدد الأخبار على واتسابCanada’s provincial and territorial premiers wrapped their Ottawa meetings on Thursday, January 29, 2026, amid renewed debate around separatist sentiment in Alberta and Quebec and repeated calls from several leaders to defend national unity.
On the Quebec file, Ontario Premier Doug Ford—speaking on the sidelines of the Council of the Federation gathering—warned that electing the Parti Québécois would lead to a separation referendum and be a “disaster” for Canada, while other premiers echoed unity-focused messaging. On Alberta, reports that separatist activists held contacts with U.S. officials drew sharp backlash, as Prime Minister Mark Carney said he expects Washington to respect Canadian sovereignty.
Carney also hosted a First Ministers’ Meeting in Ottawa on Thursday, according to the Prime Minister’s official schedule. A joint statement said leaders reaffirmed a unified “Team Canada” approach, discussed the geopolitical environment, reiterated commitments to democracy and the rule of law, affirmed support for NATO, and pledged to protect Canada’s sovereignty including in the Arctic while accelerating strategic investments in the North.
The statement outlined key deliverables: launching a “Team Canada Trade Hub” to coordinate trade diversification and investment attraction; continued support for sectors hit by tariffs; monthly federal-provincial-territorial meetings during the upcoming CUSMA review; faster approvals for major nation-building projects under a “one project, one review” principle; work toward modernized electricity systems and a net-zero grid by 2050; steps to reduce internal trade barriers and expand mutual recognition to boost labour mobility and housing construction; efforts to reduce barriers in food, agriculture and alcoholic beverages; and a push for Parliament to pass Bill C-14 on bail and sentencing reforms.
