Thursday May 22, 2025 | YELLOWKNIFE, NWT [Reporting from VICTORIA, BC]
by Mary P Brooke | Island Social Trends
Premiers from western provinces and the territories met in Yellowknife yesterday and today, May 21 and 22.
By the sounds of things from their wrap-up press conference this afternoon, they had robust and thorough conversations that resulted in all of them essentially moving forward in the same direction with economic development themes and hoped-for infrastructure projects.
The topics of discussion that were listed off yesterday included international trade and tariffs, economic corridors and energy security as well as Arctic security and sovereignty, emergency preparedness and housing. That list did not include health-care or immigration or food security.
But overall the premiers seemed revved up and enthusiastic about achieving economic development through infrastructure (including new major ports) and reducing barriers to inter-provincial trade.
Today’s broad strokes:
Broadly, the seven western premiers recognize the significant opportunity for sharing and developing the opportunities in energy and infrastructure which dovetails with transportation and wireless networks that will be needed to support economic growth.
This week they kept an eye on the opportunities for furthering the interests of their jurisdictions at the full first ministers premiers conference on June 2 with the prime minister.
They seem intent on aligning with Prime Minister Mark Carney’s goal for ‘one economy not 13’ while still watching out for the best interests of the provinces or territories that they represent.
Who was there:
Attending assembled for the Western Premiers’ Conference were the premiers representing Alberta (Danielle Smith), British Columbia (David Eby), Manitoba (Wab Kinew), Northwest Territories (R.J. Simpson), Nunavut (P.J. Akeeagok), Saskatchewan (Scott Moe) and Yukon (Ranj Pillai).
These seven premiers comprise more than half of the Council of the Federation (all of Canada’s 13 premiers).
Light touch in the press conference:
There were no big announcements in today’s press conference. What seemed like a deliberate strategy for each premier to run on about the needs of their own jurisdiction put considerable time constraints on the opportunity for a range of media outlet questions.
Likely these premiers are saving themselves and their news bits for pre-arranged or likely exclusive TV interviews. Or perhaps they really didn’t want to reveal any of their cards from two days of behind-closed-door meetings.
A official Western Premiers’ Conference 2025 statement was issued afterward. The highlighted topics were: International Trade and Tariffs, Economic Corridors, Energy Security and Project Approvals, Arctic Security and Sovereignty, Emergency Preparedness, Housing, Public Safety, Artificial Intelligence.
Alberta was confirmed as host for the next meeting of Western Premiers in 2026.
Some quotes from today:
R.J. Simpson (NWT Premier):
- “We are a united team Canada working for all Canadians,” he said in his opening remarks, adding that for the premiers of the western provinces “the working relationship is solid and we are working in the same direction for the benefit Canada”.
- In his closing remarks he said that the challenges of this economic time “don’t measure up to the opportunities”. He wants to see to make sure that the north doesn’t become “a colony for the rest of Canada”.
David Eby (BC Premier):
- “This is the moment for Western Canada,” he said as an opening remark, adding that there is a “responsibility to all Canadians that comes with the series of opportunities in front of us right now”. Eby added: “I am so honoured to be part of this table at this moment” with regard to the challenges of national security, energy, and resources.
- “What a moment that we’re in as a country,” said Eby, expressing that this is a time for determining what the western region can do to become an economic powerhouse. In answering a media question, Eby said that there will be a decrease in the cost of living for British Columbians if the economic goals discussed this week can be manifested.
- Eby referred to delays in liberating inter-provincial trade as ‘red tape’. Eby says that fluidity of skilled workers being able to move between provinces without qualification barriers will help various employment sectors like health-care be competitive — that differs from where former BC Premier John Horgan was at in 2022 when he tried to make the other premiers promise to not ‘poach’ highly skilled workers who had been trained at BC’s expense.
- “We need an economic corridor,” said Eby, for both products and communications, noting “pipes, rail and wire”. He said there are $50 billion in projects with components in BC that would benefit from this corridor.
- He noted a difference in stance between himself and Alberta Premier Danielle Smith who wants to “get heavy oil to tide water”. Eby points out that the Trans Mountain Pipeline is operating below capacity such that the pipeline method is not being optimized.
- And it wasn’t the first time that BC’s outspoken premier commented on the impact of US President Donald Trump. “We’re being directly threatened by the leader of the most powerful country in the world.”
- Eby talked about ports
Ranj Pillai (Yukon Premier):
- “A whole lot of projects are on the cusp” that just need to get past regulatory hurdles, said Pillai.
- He said that all three territories are seeing ‘gaps in investment’. He said that the economic potential of the west and the north are significant.
Scott Moe (Saskatchewan):
- “The new western partnership is the gold standard,” said Scott Moe, clearly pleased with the tone if not the progress made at this week’s conference.
- Moe was excited to mention all the opportunities for ports through which goods could be moved to Asian and European markets as part of “moving trade away from the United States” but saying that shifting away from US trade won’t happen overnight or at all. Ports could be from northwest BC to Hudson Bay. Through ports in Nunavut are routes to Europe and Asia.
- The premiers discussed building “a strong economy on behalf of all Canadians” by becoming “an energy superpower” and noting Saskatchewan’s lithium supply as a key part of that and reminding that oil and gas are a significant portion of the Canadian economy.
Danielle Smith (Alberta):
Danielle Smith said today that she is “encouraged” by the various “areas of common interest” among the western provinces and the northern territories. She highlighted electricity going “back and forth” between Manitoba, Alberta and BC.
She was the only premier to mention anything related to food security, noting that rail lines are an opportunity to ship food, flibre and manufactured goods to ports that can reach Asian markets, calling it “a major advantage”. She pointed out that the time duration of shipping from Canadian ports is shorter than the Americans can ship from the Gulf of Mexico (aka Gulf of America).
“Building on our successes is the way to go,” said Smith who seemed far less confrontational than she usually portrayed in national media.
Smith mentioned “economic reconciliation” with First Nations through developing the discussed economic projects and infrastructure.
===== RELATED:
- Western premiers discuss economy, security, sovereignty, emergency preparedness and housing (May 21, 2025)
- Three top tier resignations in the face of Trump (February 25, 2025)
- Arctic security, tariff threat & fentanyl discussed by Trudeau & premiers (February 20, 2025)
- All 13 Canadian Premiers in Washington DC on Feb 12 (February 11, 2025)
- BC Premier Eby on Canada’s strategy around US tariffs (January 15, 2025)
- Canada’s Premiers Fall 2024 meeting on energy security, health care & Canada-US relations (December 13, 2024)
- Western premiers united around economics, security & trade (June 27, 2023)
- Transportation & infrastructure key for Western premiers June 27 (June 26, 2023)
- Western premiers to meet in Whistler June 27 (June 24, 2023)
- Future Ready skills-to-economy matching amidst quarter-million population influx (May 2, 2023)
NEWS SECTIONS: COUNCIL OF THE FEDERATION | CANADA-NATIONAL | TARIFFS & TRADE | CANADA-USA
