The premiers of Alberta and Ontario are coming together in Calgary today to formalize two new agreements aimed at strengthening cooperation on energy, trade, and interprovincial collaboration. Alberta Premier Danielle Smith and Ontario Premier Doug Ford will sign memorandums of understanding that signal a joint push to break down internal trade barriers and enhance infrastructure critical to Canada’s economic resilience.
On Sunday, the two leaders participated in a roundtable discussion in Calgary, where they shared ideas on expanding pipeline and rail networks to support the export of Canadian critical minerals and energy. Premier Ford later posted on social media that building the infrastructure to get resources to global markets is the best way to protect Canadian workers from tariffs and ongoing economic instability.
Smith, who also attended the Calgary Stampede over the weekend, told Prime Minister Mark Carney during an informal encounter that she and Ford would be signing the agreements. She added it would be “so great if we didn’t have net-zero rules,” hinting at her continued opposition to federal emissions policies.
This isn’t Ford’s first move toward interprovincial economic integration. In May, he signed a similar agreement with Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew to ease the movement of goods and labor between their provinces. The urgency behind these deals has grown as U.S. President Donald Trump’s trade policies create new uncertainty for Canadian exporters. One recent study estimates that Canada’s internal trade barriers cost the national economy as much as $200 billion annually.
Monday morning, Ford joined Smith at the Premier’s Stampede Breakfast, where they flipped pancakes and greeted attendees. Outside the event, around 25 protesters voiced opposition to Alberta’s decision to lift a moratorium on new coal mining projects in the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains.
As Smith continues to challenge several of Prime Minister Carney’s federal policies—including net-zero electricity regulations, a proposed emissions cap, and the West Coast tanker ban—her alignment with Ford signals a growing coalition of provincial leaders advocating for economic autonomy and accelerated development. Meanwhile, Carney’s pledge during the spring federal election to eliminate interprovincial trade barriers by Canada Day remains under scrutiny as provinces begin forging their own pacts.
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