Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has rejected Elon Musk’s call for Quebec, Alberta and Saskatchewan to separate from Canada, saying the country’s future must be decided by Canadians rather than foreign individuals or major technology companies.
Speaking on Thursday, Carney said Canadians should be free to preserve their languages and cultures without outside interference. His comments came after Musk publicly supported independence for the three provinces in a post on X.
“The future of Canada will be decided by Canadians and the priorities of Canadians, the priorities of the people of Quebec,” Carney said when asked about Musk’s remarks.
He also criticised what he described as attempts by foreign governments and large technology companies to influence Canada’s future, arguing that decisions about the country’s direction belong to its people.
Musk made his comments on Wednesday, October 7, responding to a post about Paul St-Pierre Plamondon, the leader of Quebec’s separatist Parti Quebecois, which won the provincial election on Monday.
“Good. Quebec should separate,” Musk wrote. He added that Alberta and Saskatchewan should also leave Canada, arguing that the provinces would be better off outside the country.
The Parti Quebecois won approximately 28 per cent of the popular vote but did not secure a majority in the provincial legislature. Its victory returned the question of Quebec independence to the political spotlight, although the result did not establish majority support for separation.
Daniel Beland, a political science professor at McGill University, said the election should not be interpreted as a mandate for Quebec independence. He estimated that support for separation remained at around 30 per cent, adding that voters were primarily seeking a change of government rather than endorsing a break with Canada.
The debate over Canadian unity also extends to Alberta, where voters are scheduled to cast ballots on October 19 on whether the province should remain in Canada or move towards a future referendum on separation.
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith has said she intends to vote for the province to remain part of Canada. Speaking in Edmonton on Thursday, October 8, she said separatist sentiment had weakened as her government and Carney’s administration began working together to address provincial concerns.
“The federal government has changed. Their approach to us has changed and they’re willing to work together on addressing those issues,” Smith said.
Her comments suggest that negotiations between Alberta and the federal government remain central to the debate over the province’s future. Separatist sentiment in Alberta has been linked to disagreements with Ottawa, including concerns about federal policies and the province’s interests.
Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe also rejected Musk’s suggestion that his province should separate. Responding directly to the post on X, Moe offered a brief reply: “No.”
Musk, who was born in South Africa, holds both Canadian and American citizenship. His remarks have added an international dimension to a debate rooted in Canada’s provincial politics, constitutional arrangements and disagreements over the relationship between provincial governments and Ottawa.
The responses from Carney, Smith and Moe reflect differing political pressures across the country. While Quebec has a longstanding independence movement, Alberta’s separatist debate has focused heavily on its relationship with the federal government. In both cases, public support for separation remains a central question, distinct from the positions expressed by individual politicians or prominent figures abroad.
