Prime Minister Mark Carney stated firmly on Thursday that Canadians themselves will determine the future of their nation, directly addressing recent statements by Elon Musk advocating for the separation of Quebec, Alberta, and Saskatchewan. Speaking in Sherbrooke, Quebec, Carney emphasized that decisions regarding Canada's path forward will be made by Canadians, guided by their priorities and the unique needs of Quebecers.
Carney made it clear that discussions about the provinces' futures must be free from external influence. "Any discussion on the future of the provinces should be free from interference from foreign governments and large tech firms that think they can tell us what to do," he remarked. His comments come after Musk, the CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, expressed his views on Canada's internal political landscape via the social media platform X. Musk initially posted, "Good. Quebec should separate," followed by, "They would be better off. Alberta and Saskatchewan should separate too."
The sentiment from the premiers of Alberta and Saskatchewan was one of clear rejection. Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe responded to Musk with a succinct "No" on X. Alberta Premier Danielle Smith indicated that while separatist sentiment in her province has waned due to collaborative efforts with the federal government, she strongly disagrees with Musk's opinion. Alberta is scheduled to hold a vote on October 19 regarding its future within Canada.
The timing of Musk's remarks also follows closely on the heels of the recent provincial election in Quebec, which saw the Parti Québécois form a minority government. While the PQ leader has pledged not to hold a referendum on separation during the current U. S. presidential term, support for Quebec independence remains a recognized, albeit minority, viewpoint. Prime Minister Carney underscored his government's commitment to a united Canada, highlighting a recent $2.3-billion contract with Telesat for military satellite connectivity, a venture that could be seen as a commercial competitor to Musk's Starlink services.
