Pallister not interested in secession conversation

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This article was published 22/10/2019 (2146 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A Liberal minority government and the federal party being shut out of seats in Alberta and Saskatchewan has some on the Prairies fanning the flames of secession — but they don’t have a fan in Manitoba Premier Brian Pallister.

“I don’t have any time for that,” Pallister said firmly when questioned at an environmental announcement Tuesday.

“I don’t think you ever get anywhere building a stronger relationship by threatening to leave it… I think you have to work together. You have to overcome your difficulties,” the Tory premier said.

“You don’t threaten to leave. I’ve listened to that from Quebec for years, and I don’t like that.”

Pallister said he is willing to work with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s minority government and help bring the country together while doing it. He said it’s something Manitoba is known to do.

“Congratulations to winners, condolences to the losers,” Pallister said.

“We have a new minority government in Canada and we have a (Tory majority) government in Manitoba ready to work with the government of Canada and, of course, with all the parties on the best interests of Manitoba,” he said.

“I accept the results. Canadians have determined the results. That’s as it should be… I believe our government will benefit the country best by never forgetting that we are all part of Canada,” the premier said.

“Ultimately, Canada is a lot more than the sum of its separate parts. We see a pretty fragmented (election) result, and that concerns me. But Manitoba has always acted as the keystone… Here in Manitoba, we are solid Canadians, loyal to the Canadian cause.”

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However, that doesn’t mean Pallister is going to toss away his government’s carbon-tax battle.

“We’re going to proceed with our ‘made in Manitoba’ green plan, with or without the federal government’s support,” he said.

“I just hope we can continue to work together on these green projects and not divide ourselves and fight about carbon tax. That’s one page of our 67-page… green plan,” Pallister said.

“That being said, it’s the federal government that’s been elected on the promise to do something on climate change — it will be exciting to see them follow through.”

kevin.rollason@freepress.mb.ca

Kevin Rollason
Reporter

Kevin Rollason is a general assignment reporter at the Free Press. He graduated from Western University with a Masters of Journalism in 1985 and worked at the Winnipeg Sun until 1988, when he joined the Free Press. He has served as the Free Press’s city hall and law courts reporter and has won several awards, including a National Newspaper Award. Read more about Kevin.

Every piece of reporting Kevin produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press‘s tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press’s history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates.