B.C. Premier Signals Ottawa Should Focus on All Provinces

B.C. Premier David Eby said Tuesday that Canada cannot work if "separatist premiers" get disproportionate attention from Ottawa. The comment came as he prepared for a Wednesday meeting with Prime Minister Mark Carney—a follow-up to Carney's recent visit to Alberta, where he announced pipeline commitments and a lower carbon-tax deal with Premier Danielle Smith.

Eby's message is clear: the federal government should not negotiate away national unity to satisfy provincial premiers threatening separation. The dynamic reflects a tense moment in Canadian federalism, where some provinces (notably Alberta) have floated referendums on separation or threatened to leave Confederation if federal policies don't shift.

For Calgary residents, the subtext matters. Alberta's separatist sentiment—however vocal in some circles—is now shaping how other provinces view federal spending and policy priorities. If Ottawa is seen as rewarding separation talk with pipeline deals and tax breaks, other premiers will demand similar concessions, fragmenting national policy and turning Confederation into a hostage negotiation.

Eby's complaint suggests frustration that Alberta's threats are working—that Carney has already moved to appease Smith. The B.C. premier is signalling that rewarding separatism sets a dangerous precedent. How Carney responds in the coming weeks will shape the tone of federal-provincial relations for the rest of his term.