Advertisement 1
This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.
WATCH: McKenna suggests Mark Carney, if elected, should spend a lot of time out west to heal the wounds of division
Author of the article:
By National Post
Published Apr 26, 2025
Last updated 7hours ago
4 minute read
Join the conversationArticle content
Two of Canada’s most prominent business and former political leaders are urging the next government to make national unity a top priority.
THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS
Enjoy the latest local, national and international news.
- Exclusive articles by Conrad Black, Barbara Kay and others. Plus, special edition NP Platformed and First Reading newsletters and virtual events.
- Unlimited online access to National Post.
- National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.
- Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.
- Support local journalism.
SUBSCRIBE FOR MORE ARTICLES
Enjoy the latest local, national and international news.
- Exclusive articles by Conrad Black, Barbara Kay and others. Plus, special edition NP Platformed and First Reading newsletters and virtual events.
- Unlimited online access to National Post.
- National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.
- Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.
- Support local journalism.
REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES
Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.
- Access articles from across Canada with one account.
- Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments.
- Enjoy additional articles per month.
- Get email updates from your favourite authors.
THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK.
Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.
- Access articles from across Canada with one account
- Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments
- Enjoy additional articles per month
- Get email updates from your favourite authors
Sign In or Create an Account
or
View more offers
Article content
We apologize, but this video has failed to load.
Try refreshing your browser, or
tap here to see other videos from our team.
Develop natural resources to unify Canada: Frank McKenna, Gary Mar on Canada's unity crisis Back to video
We apologize, but this video has failed to load.
Try refreshing your browser, or
tap here to see other videos from our team.
Article content
Former New Brunswick premier and ambassador to the U.S. Frank McKenna championed the nation-building Energy East pipeline. Gary Mar, formerly Alberta’s intergovernmental relations minister and representative in Washington, now president of the Canada West Foundation.
Article content
Both joined columnist Tasha Kheiriddin on Thursday for a live discussion about national unity and the federal election. Watch the full video above.
Article content
Story continues below
This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.
Article content
McKenna suggested to National Post that Mark Carney, if elected, should spend a lot of time out west to heal the wounds of division.
Article content
First Reading
Your guide to the world of Canadian politics. (Subscriber exclusive on Saturdays)
By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc.
Interested in more newsletters? Browse here.
Article content
Western political representation
Article content
Looking at the source of Western Canada’s discontent, Mar pointed to the region’s association with the economic power linked to natural resource development.
Article content
However, McKenna pointed to a long history of high-level representation from Alberta in particular: “Alberta has enjoyed a lot of respect at the national level,” he said.
Article content
Still, McKenna firmly acknowledged that sensitivity to western concerns continue: “I hope and pray that when (the election) is all over that the pain points, the points of stress will be worked out. That we will have national leaders, the premiers included, that will work on assuaging some of these issues.”
Article content
Power focused in central Canada
Article content
Story continues below
This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.
Article content
Mar noted a shift in national politics has given rise to the present sense of western alienation. Past prime ministers, such as Brian Mulroney, Jean Chretien and Stephen Harper “had national visions” leading to “legitimacy as a national government, because you represented the whole country,” he said. This resulted in inevitable, but acceptable compromises.
Article content
Read More
- Whether a Liberal win threatens national unity depends on Albertans, Danielle Smith says
- Chris Selley: The job of repairing national unity begins in Central Canada, not Alberta
Advertisement embed-more-topic
Story continues below
This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.
Article content
Today, he said leadership is more equivalent to “followership,” and “vote maximization for the sake of power” — pushing politics to where the majority sits — in central Canada.
Article content
Potential unifying role of pipelines
Article content
Looking to cross-country energy pipelines as a source of wealth, McKenna expressed dismay that a national understanding of their importance has yet to be reached.
Article content
“In the last 10 years, we have lost $60-80 billion dollars in Canadian wealth to the United States of America because we have not been able to get the appropriate economic rents for our resource. Any Canadian, properly instructed, would say that’s not acceptable.”
Advertisement 1
This advertisement has not loaded yet.
Trending
- Federal ElectionLiberal candidate apologizes for alleged comments 'out of context' about abandoning elderly, preventing motherhood
- Federal ElectionFederal leaders, N.S. premier denounce Blanchet for calling Canada 'an artificial country'
- Federal Election'Slugging it out': Liberals up by four points ahead of election, poll finds
- NP CommentJohn Ivison: On campaign's final weekend, the Grits have the momentum
- WorldWhy Pope Francis's signet ring must be destroyed with a silver hammer
Advertisement 2
Advertisement
This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.
Article content
The reason Canadians feel Donald Trump has a grip around our collective throat, says McKenna, is because of a trade discrepancy with the U.S., which derives from the natural resources we send south, even though Americans exploit them and “turn (them) into other jobs.”
Article content
The lesson, he said, is to maintain a close relationship with the U.S., while cementing relationships around the world that will enable Canada to maximize the benefits of our resources.
Article content
McKenna believes pipelines have the possibility to unify Canadians the way railway and highway systems have done previously. “All have been tough to do and taken a lot of political capital,” he said, before pointing to several oil and liquified natural gas projects, including a potential LNG project in Quebec touted by Liberal cabinet minister Melanie Joly during a recent speech in Montreal, as potential unifiers.
Article content
Story continues below
This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.
Article content
The kind of energy corridor that has been promoted by both the Liberals and Conservatives, and was approved by the premiers in a meeting before the election was called “would truly be nation-building,” McKenna said.
Article content
A vision broader than climate targets
Article content
Both Mar and McKenna agreed that environmental concerns are valid, but they also advocated a broader vision than simply aiming to meet climate accord targets.
Article content
Quebec has the ability to be more environmentally sensitive with its emphasis on hydropower and Alberta more carbon-focused due to oil, said McKenna, but he would like to see a prime minister who can say “we can be both.”
Article content
Alberta, he noted “has more scientists working on clean technology than anywhere else in the world.” The Trump crisis has given Canada an “opportunity to do things we could never have done under ordinary circumstances.”
Article content
Story continues below
This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.
Article content
Turning back to western alienation and national support for western fossil fuels, McKenna felt assured that Pierre Poilievre is ready to move forward given his vocal track record.
Article content
Meanwhile, he pointed out that Carney was chairman of Brookfield Properties (a major player in the pipeline industry), as McKenna is now. He quoted Carney: “Pipelines going through the United States and Ontario are a national security issue for us” and building them requires one approach, not the federal and provincial governments working separately.
Article content
“If he is the prime minister after the election, I would like him to spend a lot of time in the west and listen to people because the concerns genuine, and I think they are in the national interest.”
Article content
Our website is the place for the latest breaking news, exclusive scoops, longreads and provocative commentary. Please bookmark nationalpost.com and sign up for our daily newsletter, Posted, here.
Article content
This advertisement has not loaded yet.
Comments
You must be logged in to join the discussion or read more comments.
Create an AccountSign in
Join the Conversation
Postmedia is committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion. Please keep comments relevant and respectful. Comments may take up to an hour to appear on the site. You will receive an email if there is a reply to your comment, an update to a thread you follow or if a user you follow comments. Visit our Community Guidelines for more information.
