Alberta and Saskatchewan premiers reject Elon Musk's call for separation

The premiers of Alberta and Saskatchewan have rejected a suggestion by billionaire Elon Musk that the two provinces should separate from Canada.

Musk made the comments on his social media platform X on Wednesday, replying to a post about incoming Quebec premier Paul St-Pierre Plamondon's pledge that Quebec independence would one day be achieved.

"Good. Quebec should separate," Musk wrote. In a follow-up post, he added, "They would be better off. Alberta and Saskatchewan should separate too."

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Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe offered a one-word response on social media: "No."

Moe was not available for an interview on Thursday and his office said he had nothing more to add to the post.

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith also publicly disagreed with Musk's suggestion. Speaking to the Leduc, Nisku and Wetaskiwin Chamber of Commerce Wednesday afternoon, she said remaining in Canada is the best path forward.

"I am going to do whatever I can to convince as many Albertans as possible that Canada can work and hopefully win them over to that view," said Smith. "That’s because the fight to make Canada work for Alberta is producing results. When Alberta stood up and spoke out and refused to back down, the rest of the country started listening. That’s why I believe our best days are still ahead, as a strong Alberta within a united Canada."

Prime Minister Mark Carney was asked about Musk's comments Thursday while speaking in Quebec.

Carney said the future of Canada will be decided by Canadians, the priorities of Canadians and the people of Quebec.

"A strong Canada means more independent, more sovereign, more prosperous," Carney said, adding that Canada will be "free from foreign interference of foreign governments and large tech firms that think they can tell us what to do."

On Oct. 19, voters in Alberta will answer the question: "Should Alberta remain a province of Canada, or should the Government of Alberta commence the legal process required under the Canadian Constitution to hold a binding provincial referendum on whether or not Alberta should separate from Canada?"

Smith has said she plans to vote to stay in Canada in the upcoming provincial referendum.

In May, Smith announced the Alberta government will present a referendum question on independence to voters after a pair of petitions from grassroots organizations Forever Canada and Stay Free Alberta gathered more than 700,000 signatures.

Moe believes Saskatchewan is stronger within a united Canada, but has previously said he would not stop a plebiscite if Saskatchewanians were able to secure enough signatures to trigger a referendum.

At the Western Premiers' meeting in Alberta in May, Moe said, "We support a strong and growing province of Saskatchewan with the united nation of Canada."

He defended Alberta's separatism vote question at the same meeting, saying that Smith is "following the law," though he added, "It's beneficial for Alberta to remain in Canada."

In Quebec, the sovereigntist Parti Québécois is back in power after securing enough seats to form a minority government in Monday's provincial election.

Soon-to-be premier Paul St-Pierre Plamondon has vowed to hold a referendum.

This is not the first time Musk, a former adviser to U.S. President Donald Trump, has waded into Canadian separatism. In April, he agreed with an X user who argued Alberta independence was the only way to save the province.

With files from CBC News, Global News and National Post