{"id":140202,"date":"2026-07-22T23:18:13","date_gmt":"2026-07-22T23:18:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/canada\/140202\/"},"modified":"2026-07-22T23:18:13","modified_gmt":"2026-07-22T23:18:13","slug":"premiers-tread-lightly-one-day-ahead-of-meeting-with-carney","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/canada\/140202\/","title":{"rendered":"Premiers tread lightly, one day ahead of meeting with Carney"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Canada's<\/a>Canada’s Premiers at their 2026 summer meeting closing press conference, July 22, 2026 in Charlottetown, PEI. [screenshot]
\n \"CANADIAN<\/a> <\/p>\n

Wednesday July 22, 2026 | CHARLOTTETOWN, PEI [Posted at 3:41 pm PT]<\/p>\n

Political news analysis by Mary P Brooke | Island Social Trends<\/p>\n

Canada\u2019s Premiers addressed media today at the conclusion of their summer meeting at the Council of the Federation (COF).<\/p>\n

This comes still as they intend to meet as First Ministers tomorrow, with Prime Minister Mark Carney. <\/p>\n

\"cof,<\/a>Premiers of Canada\u2019s provinces and territories, July 2026. [Council of the Federation]<\/p>\n

So only the most basic of positions were sporadically commented on by the premiers until they hear more from the prime minister tomorrow about a national economic strategy or at least the approach to dealing with the current 30-day period of the latest Trump tariff threat).<\/p>\n

The topics covered in a media conference with so many leaders at the table depends in large part on the type of questions that the media chooses to ask. Media was asked to adhere to a one-question protocol (so there could be more questions).<\/p>\n

The premiers did highlight things like health care that is under-funded, economic drivers that are under threat or need boosting, and regional disparities especially for the north and smaller provinces. <\/p>\n

\"ist<\/a><\/p>\n

Chair\u2019s remarks:<\/p>\n

Over two days the premiers had \u201ca number of productive discussions on a number of issues that matter most to Canadians,\u201d said COF Chair Rob Lantz (premier of PEI). He said that Canadians are looking to their governments for leadership in a time of uncertainty that is \u2018the new norm\u2019.<\/p>\n

Workers, businesses and families are impacted by decisions made beyond Canadian borders, said Lantz. \u201cThe cost of living is rising in every Canadian home. Businesses are looking for certainty. Communities want to know that governments can work together, strengthen our economy, improve health care and build a secure future,\u201d said Lantz.<\/p>\n

\u201cOne message remained clear \u2014 Premiers support a strong and united Canada,\u201d said Lantz.<\/p>\n

\"lantaz,<\/a>Council of the Federation Chair Rob Lantz and press conference Co-Chair Christine Frechette, at COF closing press conference in Charlottetown, PEI on July 22, 2026. [livestream]<\/p>\n

Delivering the introductory closing remarks in French, Quebec Premier Christine Fr\u00e9chette said that collaboration was evident even as each province and territory has their respective interests. \u201cWe have been able to demonstrate that we can focus on what brings us together,\u201d said Fr\u00e9chette [translation].<\/p>\n

\u201cSo we have had constructive discussions, namely as to how to reinforce economy, how to address internal trade, how we must invest in infrastructure, and also how we need to favour access to the different government services,\u201d said Fr\u00e9chette [translation].<\/p>\n

She highlighted energy and energy security, and the reliability of Canadian electrical grids. Health and health-care were discussed as a priority: \u201cThis is one of the points we will highlight with our meeting with the prime minister,\u201d said Fr\u00e9chette. Health-care requires planning and investment, she added.<\/p>\n

\"ist,<\/a>In this municipal election year, get signed up for the Island Social Trends Premium ENews.<\/p>\n

CUSMA negotiations:<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s in everyone\u2019s best interest in North America for us to come to an agreement in a new and reviewed CUSMA,\u201d said Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe. <\/p>\n

Moe said he\u2019s optimistic of that outcome \u201cbut not entirely confident we\u2019ll get there\u201d, implying that he\u2019s realistic about the magnitude of the challenge.<\/p>\n

\"premiers,<\/a>Summer meeting of Canada\u2019s Premiers on July 22, 2026, shown here (from left): Susan Holt (NB); David Eby (BC), Scott Moe (Sask), and Tony Wakeham (Nfld & Labrador). [livestream]<\/p>\n

Ontario Premier Doug Ford commented on the upcoming meeting with Prime Minister Carney tomorrow. <\/p>\n

\"ontario<\/a>Ontario Premier Doug Ford at the Council of the Federation press conference on July 22, 2026 in Charlottetown, PEI. [livestream]<\/p>\n

\u201cHe needs to lead the way and come up with a strong plan over the next 29 days. I\u2019m interested in sitting down with him and hearing the plan. I\u2019ll just speak for Ontario \u2014 everything\u2019s on the table. We can\u2019t keep rolling over for Donald Trump. That\u2019s what I believe in. Standing up strong and negotiate through strength. You don\u2019t negotiate through weakness, especially with President Trump,\u201d said Ford.<\/p>\n

\"book<\/a><\/p>\n

It would be unlikely that Carney doesn\u2019t realize about negotiating with strength and not backing down. So perhaps there is more to the negotiation scenario at this time than Carney or his negotiating team is revealing. Carney and his team often say they\u2019re not going to negotiate in public.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere is lots of opportunity for Canada when we work together,\u201d said New Brunswick Premier Susan Holt. She noted that there is a Maritimes energy hub that is connected to Quebec, and to the USA through transmission lines. There is also room for supporting the US market with nuclear, said Holt as part of delivering \u201caffordable, reliable secure energy\u201d.<\/p>\n

\"ist<\/a><\/p>\n

BC\u2019s tough position:<\/p>\n

\u201cWe can\u2019t have a country on one hand attacking one group of families and workers while hoping to have access to the resources in Canada that the rest of the world wants,\u201d said BC Premier David Eby. \u201cThe United States needs to make up its mind,\u201d said Eby.<\/p>\n

\"David<\/a>BC Premier David Eby at the Council of the Federation summer meeting in Charlottetown, PEI on July 21, 2026. [livestream]<\/p>\n

\u201cI will say frankly, from British Columbia\u2019s perspective, that we support the prime minister making that case at the table. If you want a strong partner, if you want the friendship that\u2019s benefitted North Americans for generations, then let\u2019s have that. And if you don\u2019t want that, we need to be looking to the rest of the world,\u201d said Eby during the July 22 press conference.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf the prime minister calls British Columbia and says he needs support with some big sticks to have conversations at the table, then we\u2019ll be there,\u201d said Eby. \u201cAnd I\u2019m happy to stand with the prime minister in that kind of discussion,\u201d said Eby, whose province has been pushing hard with a Look West economic strategy ever since Trump first announced tariffs.<\/p>\n

\u201cAt the end of the day, the United States needs to decide what they want. Do they want a strong partner in Canada where we work together or are they keen to go it alone,\u201d said Eby. \u201cBut there\u2019s not this middle road where you attack British Columbians on one hand and the other hand you\u2019re digging up our metals and minerals and bringing them south of the border,\u201d said BC\u2019s premier today.<\/p>\n

\"ist<\/a><\/p>\n

Health and economy:<\/p>\n

COF Chair Lantz said that the premiers had \u201ca robust discussion about health care in this country and the need for the federal government to come to the table as a strong, stable reliable partner that\u2019s able to fund universal health care, universal access to health care across this entire country\u201d.<\/p>\n

The premiers have strong expectations of \u201cthe role they expect the federal government to play\u201d in supporting health care as a fundamental aspect of the Canadian way.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is fundamental to who we are as Canadians,\u201d said Lantz, highlighting the shortage of access to primary care across the country.<\/p>\n

The premiers heard a presentation this morning from the Canadian Federation of Nurses Union about the role of health care in the Canadian economy. <\/p>\n

\u201cHealthy people drive healthy economies,\u201d said Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston. \u201cWe can\u2019t jeopardize the standard of care. We need a partner in the federal govt that realizes that,\u201d said Houston.<\/p>\n

\"ist<\/a><\/p>\n

Not specifically mentioned:<\/p>\n

Not specifically mentioned or highlighted to the media by the premiers at this meeting were some hot topics of previous years such as housing, child care, artificial intelligence or Indigenous issues. <\/p>\n

Clearly the premiers are aware of these issues, but they didn\u2019t surface to the top of expressed concerns n either media questions or premiers\u2019 answers, given that the latest US tariff threat looms so large.<\/p>\n

\"ist<\/a>It\u2019s a municipal election year in BC \u2014 get reliable informative news through professional journalism. Local, provincial and federal news and analysis posted daily at IslandSocialTrends.ca<\/p>\n

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