B.C. premier says Alberta separatism the ‘elephant in the room’ during pivotal moment for Canada

Even as B.C. Premier David Eby argues that his province is delivering on helping grow a Canadian economy battered by U.S. trade attacks, he said the “omnipresent” issue of a referendum on Alberta separatism has made the situation more delicate.

“We’re talking, simultaneously, about unifying policy across provinces and territories to reduce friction — at the same time as Alberta is talking about increasing that friction by separating from the country,” Eby told Matt Galloway on The Current in an interview airing on Thursday.

The premier’s comments on Alberta separatism come amid public sparring with Alberta Premier Danielle Smith over a proposed oil pipeline route to B.C., as well as Eby’s assertions that B.C. is getting a raw deal from Ottawa even as it has many more projects of national importance.

Eby spoke to The Current about how the country’s economy can continue to build itself out amid continuing U.S. tensions, as well as how he is navigating ongoing tussles over Indigenous land claims and major projects.

“We see our role as facilitating the work we want to do as Canadians, as a whole country,” he said.

“And sometimes we get the feeling that the knowledge of what’s happening in the country stops [at] the [Rocky] Mountains,” Eby added. “And so, we’re really glad to be able to share the good news about what’s happening here.”

Major project wrangling

Eby has been public for months about how B.C. has the most resource projects, designated as those of national importance, in the country — ranging from mine expansions and LNG export terminals to electric transmission projects.

He says that those projects, representing billions of dollars in investments and jobs, need as much attention from Prime Minister Mark Carney as a proposed new oil pipeline to the West Coast by 2027 that still has no route, private proponent or business case — unlike B.C.’s projects.

“All of those projects are put at huge risk by the notional pipeline project coming from Alberta,” he said.

WATCH | Carney argues discussions between premiers are constructive:

Carney says discussions with premiers ‘are much more constructive than they are portrayed’

Ahead of his meeting Wednesday with B.C. Premier David Eby to discuss a potential pipeline from Alberta to the West Coast, Prime Minister Mark Carney said ‘you show up, you listen, you learn.’ But he also warned that ‘if things get stalled here we’re going to be spending more time elsewhere in the country because things need to move forward.’

Even as Eby continues to wrangle with the feds and Alberta over the projects, he has acknowledged that the hardest issue he’s had to deal with as a premier is a different one.

The premier is referring to the debate over the Declaration of the Rights on Indigenous Peoples Act, as well as court cases that have led to concerns over how Indigenous title claims interact with private property.

Eby had to back away from amendments to the act after widespread opposition from First Nations and his own party, and the province has now embarked on consultations with nations and other stakeholders before the fall legislative session.

The premier told The Current he aims to find a way to have the courts recognize that the province wants to partner with First Nations, government-to-government, as it looks to create jobs and projects that uplift entire communities.

“The Declaration Act was passed unanimously in our legislature. The hope was that it would bring people together,” he said.

“These court decisions have created a great challenge for that, and our hope is to be able to get back to that through deals, and through doing the work in really demonstrating success.”

Call for federal attention

Amid the attention on the Alberta pipeline and projects of national importance, Eby continued to reiterate that B.C. isn’t getting its fair shake at national negotiating tables compared to its neighbour.

But Kathryn Harrison, a political science professor at the University of B.C., said a recently-announced LNG deal in Vancouver could signal federal overtures towards the province .

That deal with Germany involves Ksi Lisims, a liquified natural gas terminal in northwest B.C., and will see the export one million metric tonnes of LNG per year.

“That may be part of building support from B.C., the federal government showing British Columbia that it can do things for B.C. as well,” she said.

WATCH | Alberta separation talk made meetings ‘awkward’, Eby says:

Eby says premiers’ meeting ‘awkward’ amid Alberta separation talk

British Columbia Premier David Eby told reporters the agenda for the western premiers’ meeting in Alberta seems ‘at best confusing, if not totally awkward’ in the wake of the host premier’s referendum question on separation. Eby was also asked for his reaction to Alberta Premier Danielle Smith’s comments that there needs to be ‘self-reflection’ among B.C. leadership for feeding separatist sentiment.

For Eby, he said any discussions of a “grand bargain” regarding pipelines from Alberta would mean that B.C. has to be at the bargaining table first.

But he said that the “elephant in the room” regarding major projects and Canada’s economy remains the vote on potential Alberta separatism.

“I think, actually, we’re in a much better position as Canadians than we’ve been — which is why it is so frustrating to have a referendum question about whether or not this country should stick together at the exact moment it feels like we’re turning the corner on these things,” he said.

WATCH | Separation referendum causes Smith, Eby to spar:

Alberta, B.C. premiers spar on separation referendum

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith and her B.C. counterpart, David Eby, traded barbs over this fall’s referendum on separation. The issue looms large as western provincial leaders meet in Kananaskis this week.