Canada’s premiers and Prime Minister Mark Carney will be gathering for an in-person meeting at the beginning of June in Saskatchewan. It will be the first time the province hosts such a meeting in four decades, Premier Scott Moe said.
“I said [to Carney], ‘It’s time that your government starts showing some love to Saskatchewan and Alberta,’” Ford said after a virtual First Ministers Meeting on May 7. “The last prime minister showed no love—as a matter of fact, to the contrary. So it’s nice that we’re heading out there to Saskatchewan for [a First Ministers Meeting].”
Ford called the meeting location a “good olive branch.”
The Ontario premier also said that Ottawa should try and focus on the west a little more to unite the country.
“I spoke pretty strongly in support of Alberta and Saskatchewan, because they’ve been ignored for the last 10 years, have been treated terribly, to be very frank,” Ford said.
“I think the new prime minister, Prime Minister Carney, understands that, and he’s going to be out there having great conversations. And just the move, just that one move, bringing [the First Ministers Meeting] out to Saskatchewan, that’s a big move.”
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Premier Moe said he was looking forward to having the other premiers and Carney in his province.
“It will be the first meeting of the PM and Premiers in Saskatchewan in 40 years,” Moe said in a post on social media. “Great choice by the PM to hold his first in-person meeting with Premiers since the election in Saskatchewan.”
Ford also commented on the prime minister’s meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump on May 6 in the Oval Office.
“I think it’s a good start on a new relationship. I saw President Trump said really kind things when he just tweeted out, so that’s good. It’s good for the country.”
The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) said that the May 7 call with the premiers focused on the Canada–U.S. relationship and the Canadian economy.
“First Ministers also discussed building projects of national interest to diversify the economy, create higher-paying jobs, and build one Canadian economy instead of 13,” the PMO said in a statement.
The premiers agreed to “accelerate project approvals,” according to the statement.
“The Prime Minister reaffirmed his commitment to table federal legislation to eliminate federal trade barriers by Canada Day,” the PMO said.
