Former premiers speak out against Carney
Prime Minister Mark Carney continues to face criticism as Canada's cost-of-living crisis continues and a trade deal with the US has yet to be reached.
At the recent Canada Strong and Free Network Conference in Ottawa, two former premiers — Mike Harris of Ontario and Gordon Campbell of British Columbia — delivered a blunt message about the state of conservatism in Canada. They echoed the message that Canadians are looking for practical solutions, lower costs, stronger provincial autonomy and less federal interference.
Asked about conservatism in Canada, Campbell said people are searching for “sensible solutions” and are “tired of the old ideologies” that hold them and their families back. He said Canadians want “more choices in their lives” and want to get “their cost of living under control.”
Harris defended Ontario Premier Doug Ford, saying, “He is a conservative and he’s doing the best that he can.” But he argued Ford’s biggest obstacle is Ottawa. “The biggest challenge that he has, the federal government puts on him,” Harris said. “They shove all these programs at him. They don’t give him enough money to run them.”
Harris said premiers across the country are facing the same problem: “The way the federal government intrudes on provincial areas of jurisdiction, over taxes, over borrows, sets stupid conditions.” For him, “the biggest challenge is dealing with the federal government.”
Campbell also criticized Ottawa’s role in natural resources, saying, “It’s time for the federal government to get out of natural resources.” He argued Alberta and British Columbia should be “in lockstep” to move Canadian resources to international markets, including through a pipeline “from Alberta direct to the port of Prince Rupert.”
On Mark Carney, Campbell was unequivocal: “Mark Carney is not a conservative.” He called Carney “a statist” who believes “the state should be included in everything.”
Campbell said Canadians do not want government controlling their lives. Instead, they want to “set their own agendas” and “make their own choices.” He added that “the private sector economy is the economy that drives quality of life forward.”
Alexandra Lavoie
Quebec based Journalist
Alexa graduated with a degree in biology from Laval University. Throughout her many travels, she has seen political instability as well as corruption. While she witnessed social disorder on a daily basis, she has always been a defender of society’s most vulnerable. She’s been around the world several times, and now joins Rebel News to shed light on today’s biggest stories.
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COMMENTS
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Bernhard Jatzeck commented 2026-05-13 23:25:06 -0400What people really want in an election is a clear distinction between parties. Right now, we have the Liberals (“we’re less bad than Harper”) and the pseudo-Liberals, sometimes called Conservatives (“we’re a bit better than Trudeau or Carney”). What’s the difference?
We want something to vote for, not empty promises and vapid slogans that say nothing. The main problem with the pseudo-Liberals is that they’re more afraid of losing an election than trying to win one. -
Bruce Atchison commented 2026-05-13 21:34:53 -0400Not only Carney is the problem but so are Libers and their boomer allies.
