Wab Kinew backs Confederation as Moe cites western frustration

Manitoba Premier wab kinew and Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe arrived at the western premiers meeting as Alberta separatist agitation spread into regional talks. Moe told reporters Monday that Saskatchewan’s governing party stands with Confederation, saying, “We support a strong and growing province of Saskatchewan with the united nation of Canada.”

He added, “(But) again, those frustrations shouldn’t be discounted.” The comments came on the first day of a meeting that brought together seven Western Canadian premiers and the three territorial premiers at an upscale lodge near the Rocky Mountains west of Calgary.

Scott Moe Near Calgary

Moe’s remarks put Saskatchewan on record while Alberta’s separation debate was still moving through the room. The premier linked his support for Canada with a warning not to dismiss anger over western separation, giving the meeting a sharper edge than a routine gathering on shared projects.

That setting mattered because the annual get-together usually centers on common priorities. This time, Alberta separatism was raised publicly at the start, and Moe’s statement showed the issue had moved beyond Alberta alone.

David Eby Raises The Issue

B.C. Premier David Eby said he wondered why the premiers should work on getting things built as Alberta pushes the envelope on breaking it all apart. Alberta Premier Danielle Smith responded that B.C. leaders need to understand that efforts to landlock Alberta’s oil wealth helped sow separatist bitterness.

Those exchanges left the western premiers meeting with the political dispute in plain view before the talks moved toward their Tuesday finish. Moe’s position gives the Confederation side a direct provincial voice, but his warning on frustration shows western leaders are treating the separatist backlash as part of the conversation, not a side note.

Western Premiers Meeting Tuesday

The meeting ends Tuesday, after seven Western Canadian premiers and the three territorial premiers have had a chance to continue the discussion near Calgary. For readers watching the Alberta debate, the immediate takeaway is that Saskatchewan’s governing party is not joining the separation push, even as its premier acknowledges the anger driving it.