Premiers of Ontario and Alberta clash over Carney's inaugural meeting with Trump

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith speaks at a press conference in Edmonton on May 6. The Premiers of Ontario and Alberta expressed differing opinions regarding the outcome of Prime Minister Mark Carney's first in-person meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump.

This disagreement highlighted rising tensions over unity concerns from the West. Despite their differences, both Doug Ford and Danielle Smith acknowledged that President Trump seems to prefer engaging with Carney over former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, which they are optimistic could yield long-term benefits for Canada. Carney's visit to the White House on Tuesday followed a federal election centered on the ongoing U.S. trade war and Trump's recurrent threats to take control over Canada, his closest ally. The Prime Minister described the meeting—preceded by a 34-minute public Oval Office discussion in which Trump reiterated his belief that Canada should become the 51st state, a notion Carney countered—as "constructive." He later stated that the focus would be on redefining relations between the two nations. Ford and Smith are scheduled to meet with Carney in a virtual first ministers' meeting on Wednesday. The two Premiers portrayed different interpretations of the Oval Office meeting. Smith dismissed a warning from Ontario's Premier regarding rising separatist sentiments in Alberta, suggesting he should concentrate on his own province. Ford emphasized the importance of national unity in addressing Trump's tariffs, while Smith expressed her expectation that he would refrain from advising her on Alberta's governance.

That's a promising start; it's all about relationship-building, and I believe this marks the first step toward something productive." Ford added that Canada is "in a much better position" following the meeting, noting that both leaders appeared respectful and shared a warm greeting. He viewed this as a positive beginning for rekindling a strong relationship with the United States. Conversely, Smith adopted a different stance. "I believe Prime Minister Carney has a tough task ahead," she said to reporters in Edmonton. She expressed hope that behind the scenes, Carney and Trump could devise a strategy to renegotiate the North America Free Trade Agreement. The current US-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) is set to expire in 18 months, and Trump indicated uncertainty over its ongoing necessity. "A timely renegotiation would greatly benefit all of us," Smith added. The Alberta Premier attributed the strained relations between Washington and Ottawa to Trudeau. "I share the hope that they will be able to reset this relationship," she stated. "We'll see if Prime Minister Mark Carney can achieve that." Earlier, Ford appeared to reference the growing separatist movement in Alberta when discussing the need for unity. On Monday, Smith addressed the frustrations with Ottawa, indicating her personal opposition to separation while acknowledging that if a citizen-driven petition met the necessary signatures, the government would facilitate a referendum in 2026. "This is the time to unite the country, not for people to say, 'I'm leaving the country,'" Ford insisted during a speech in Toronto. When asked about the possibility of Alberta's separation, Ford remarked, "I'm not in favor of that at all. We need to remain united. We're much stronger when we stand together. Hopefully, that will never come to pass.

" Smith responded to Ford's comments during her press conference on Tuesday, asserting that she and the Ontario Premier maintain a solid friendship, despite their differences. "In fact, we likely supported different candidates in the last federal election," she noted. "We don't need to agree on everything." She implied that Ford, a Progressive Conservative who had criticized Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, may have supported the Liberals in the recent federal campaign.

Smith emphasized that both Premiers engage in constructive dialogue at the Council of the Federation meetings, which Ford chairs. "He's the Premier of Ontario; I'm the Premier of Alberta. We face different issues in our respective provinces," she commented. "I don't dictate how he should run his province, and I expect the same courtesy in return. We have a respectful relationship, and I hope it continues.