Wednesday January 28, 2026 | OTTAWA, ON [Reporting from VICTORIA, BC] [Posted at 8:57 am PT | Updated 9:11 am PT]
by Mary P Brooke | Island Social Trends
The 2026 Winter Meeting of Canada’s Premiers is happening today in Ottawa at the Andaz Ottawa Byward Market Hotel.
PEI Premier Bloyce Thompson is the Council of the Federation (COF) chair.
This comes one day ahead of the premiers meeting with Liberal Prime Minister Mark Carney. Carney also met virtually with Canada’s Premiers last month, on December 19.
Trade diversification & affordability:
The impact and momentum of change in Canada’s economy is likely nearly the entire focus of today’s meeting.
Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne briefly told national media this morning that he expects to talk with the premiers about national major projects and energy, as well as reviewing the outcomes of recent trade arrangements with China, and countries in Asia and Europe.
BC and Alberta:
Prime Minister Mark Carney’s schedule shows that he will be meeting with BC Premier David Eby at 12:45 pm ET (9:45 am PT), followed immediately by a meeting with Eby together with Alberta Premier Danielle Smith at 1:20 pm ET (10.20 am PT).
Northern premiers:
The three northern premiers addressed media today around 12 noon ET (9 am PT), led by NWT Premier Simpson as their chair.
“The territories are not provinces. If we want new infrastructure we need the federal government,” said Simpson today.
When premiers come out of their joint COF meeting they will be united in the spirit of Team Canada, said Simpson.
“The way we can invest is restrained heavily by the financial systems” that the territories operate in, said Nunavut premier John Main. He said that the prime minister’s speech at Davos was “a proud moment for me as a Canadian”.
“Things have already changed, things need to move forward in the new future,” said Main regarding the ‘new economy’ that has been emerging since the United States ruptured the world economy.
“We want to see that new approach to the world reflected (in action in the North),” said Yukon Premier Currie Dixon.
More to come as various premiers address the media.
About COF:
The Council of the Federation comprises all 13 provincial and territorial Premiers.
COF enables Premiers to work collaboratively, form closer ties, foster constructive relationships among governments, and show leadership on important issues that matter to Canadians.
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