Prime Minister Mark Carney and BC Premier David Eby outside the BC Cabinet Office in Vancouver, May 20, 2026. [screenshot]
Wednesday May 20, 2026 | VANCOUVER, BC [Posted at 12:51 pm PT]
by Mary P Brook e| Island Social Trends
Prime Minister Mark Carney joined BC Premier David Eby at the province’s Vancouver Cabinet office today in Vancouver.
Preliminary remarks ahead of their meeting were presented to media on the balcony with the iconic Vancouver skyline behind them on a moderately warm sunny day.
The stakes are high. Priorities are to be discussed. This meeting comes after the announcement of a proposed oil products pipelines from Alberta to the BC coast — an agreement between the federal government and Alberta that did not involved BC.
Carney calls it an opportunity:
Today’s meeting is “an enormous opportunity”, said Carney. “This is a positive agenda. Yes there are challenges in the world but this is what we’re building for — the priorities of the province and the country.
Prime Minister Mark Carney outside the BC Cabinet office in Vancouver, May 20, 2026. [screenshot]
BC has about one third of this country’s major projects and the advantages of natural resources, a strong electrical grid, ocean ports, and an educated work force.
“There is no doubt in my mind that the prime minister is a friend to British Columbia,” said Eby, while emphasizing that environment and economic development must go hand in hand.
“There are a series of other issues that we will work on as part of broader Canadian federalism and cooperation that is critical,” said Carney.
Eby calls a truthful discussion:
What Eby is hoping for out of today’s meeting includes “a fair share for British Columbia of federal investment, that the prime minister has committed to for this country and a fair share of federal enthusiasm for the projects that we’re bringing forward”.
Premier David Eby outside his office in Vancouver, May 20, 2026. [screenshot]
Eby said it would be a full and truthful discussion.
Eby outlined his priorities for this meeting as “the major projects in BC that can really deliver for all Canadians”.
“We’ve been working for years to develop the projects that deliver the resources that people need, that they’re looking for around the world,” said Eby, listing off the mining sector, clean energy, and life sciences.
“I’m glad that the prime minister and I have agreed to enter into negotiations on BC’s priorities going forward. It will be an important discussion,” said Eby out in the Vancouver coastal sunshine.
Impact of the US trade war:
“I don’t think I have to tell the prime minster, I think he’s well aware, of the rupture that we face with our biggest trading partner and how it’s showing up here in British Columbia,” said Eby.
“And the need for us to work together to respond to that. And I know that British Columbians have seen the prime minister’s leadership on this very point of strengthening our national economy,” said Eby, as he stood side by side with Prime Minister Carney on the cabinet office balcony.
Eby said that Carney’s approach is about “ensuring we can stand on our own two feet and we are all grateful that the prime minister stands up to people who threaten our sovereignty and threaten our economy”, said Eby.
Eby said BC is “ideally suited to meet this moment”.
Friends:
“An important part of friendship is telling each other the truth,” said Eby.
“Part of the truth for British Columbia is that the development work that we’re doing – developing our economy – has to go hand in hand with environmental protection for the next generation, including the North Coast tanker ban,” said BC’s premier today.
“That is critically important for British Columbians, protecting our pristine north coast as well as ensuring that balance. I know the prime minister shares those values, too,” said Eby.
Outcomes:
“Together we’re going to be building the crittcal infrastructure, the clean energy projects, the critical metals and minerals projects that will deliver national security, growth in the Canadian economy, jobs for British Columbians, and help us also pay for those services that British Columbians depend on – the doctors and nurses, the schools, the roads,” said Eby.
“So there’s lots of positive work that we’re going to do here today. I’m glad the prime minister is here and I look forward very much to the conversation that we’re going to have over the next little while,” said Eby.
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Building on BC’s priorities:
“Today’s discussion builds on a series of discussions and some progress that we’ve been making over the course of the last year<” said PRime Minister Carney standing next to Eby in the sunshine.
Carney emphasized “the importance of building in the right way, in partnership with First Nations — with an emphasis on sustainability as well as prosperity”.
Carney says the federal government is building on priorities — as set by British Columbians — that also “help BC help Canada become stronger and more independent while we build in partnership and build sustainability”.
Prime Minister Mark Carney and BC Premier David Eby outside the BC Cabinet Office in Vancouver, May 20, 2026. [screenshot]
Testament to BC:
A number of the BC priorities “show up in the nation building project list”, said Carney, noting that BC presents about one third of just over 20 strategies that the major projects office is looking at.
Carney said that’s a testament to the leadership of the premier and the energy and innovation in BC.
“It’s important that we take those principles of building in the right way and work on those projects and others that we’ll identify today,” said Carney.
Carney says progress will be seen in building “in a way that makes us stronger, makes the province and the country more sustainable, and makes us more independent”.
Building on momentum:
“We’re building on some momentum that’s built up,” said Carney about progress with BC.
“It’s a discussion that very much respects the priorities and values of British Columbia,” the prime minister said.
With a broad declaration, Carney said those values are shared between the two leaders and that the country also shares them.
Including workers:
“We are building British Columbia strong and sustainable for all. Yes, in partnership with First Nations but also in partnership, very much, with workers in the province,” said Carney.
He said the will ensure “that w’ere doing it in a way that’s building for our workers, building or Canadians, maximizing the impact”.
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