Mark Carney Fires Back at Elon Musk Over Calls for Quebec, Alberta and Saskatchewan to Break Away — ‘Large Tech Firms’ Can’t Tell Canadians What to Do
Namrata Sen
Sun, October 11, 2026
BENZINGA
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney answering questions (Credit: Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney answering questions | Photo courtesy: Shutterstock)
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has pushed back against Tesla Inc. CEO Elon Musk's public support for separatist movements in Quebec, Alberta and Saskatchewan.
Carney responded Thursday in Quebec after Musk backed separation efforts involving the three provinces. Speaking with reporters, Carney said Quebec residents would determine their own priorities, alongside the government's 43 members of Parliament representing the province. He cited affordability, social justice and homelessness as key concerns, while supporting "a strong Quebec within a strong Canada."
The Canadian Prime Minister also called for a Canada that is more independent, sovereign and prosperous, while preserving Quebec's language, culture and way of life.
"Free from interference from foreign governments and large tech firms that think they can tell us what to do," he said.
Musk Backs Quebec, Alberta, Saskatchewan Secession
On Wednesday, Elon Musk weighed in on Quebec independence after responding Wednesday to a post about premier-designate Paul St-Pierre Plamondon's pledge to achieve independence.
"Good. Quebec should separate," Musk wrote on X. In another post, he added, "They would be better off. Alberta and Saskatchewan should separate too."
Good. Quebec should separate.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) October 7, 2026
Notably, in an interview with the New York Times last month, Carney signaled that Canada would reduce its reliance on Musk's Starlink satellite internet service. "Starlink we will diversify away from, no question." he said.
Carney Warns of Brexit-Style Crisis
The dispute comes as separatist sentiment in Alberta has gained organizational momentum. In February, volunteers with the Alberta Prosperity Project and allied groups pursued the roughly 177,000 signatures needed to trigger a citizen-initiated independence referendum. The campaign unfolded as Canada faced strained relations with the United States, including tariff disputes and annexation rhetoric.
Carney later warned that an Alberta referendum could create a Brexit-style crisis that Canada might struggle to reverse, calling Premier Danielle Smith's proposed October 19 referendum "a very dangerous bluff."
Namrata Sen
Sun, October 11, 2026
BENZINGA
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney answering questions (Credit: Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney answering questions | Photo courtesy: Shutterstock)
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has pushed back against Tesla Inc. CEO Elon Musk's public support for separatist movements in Quebec, Alberta and Saskatchewan.
Carney responded Thursday in Quebec after Musk backed separation efforts involving the three provinces. Speaking with reporters, Carney said Quebec residents would determine their own priorities, alongside the government's 43 members of Parliament representing the province. He cited affordability, social justice and homelessness as key concerns, while supporting "a strong Quebec within a strong Canada."
The Canadian Prime Minister also called for a Canada that is more independent, sovereign and prosperous, while preserving Quebec's language, culture and way of life.
"Free from interference from foreign governments and large tech firms that think they can tell us what to do," he said.
Musk Backs Quebec, Alberta, Saskatchewan Secession
On Wednesday, Elon Musk weighed in on Quebec independence after responding Wednesday to a post about premier-designate Paul St-Pierre Plamondon's pledge to achieve independence.
"Good. Quebec should separate," Musk wrote on X. In another post, he added, "They would be better off. Alberta and Saskatchewan should separate too."
Good. Quebec should separate.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) October 7, 2026
Notably, in an interview with the New York Times last month, Carney signaled that Canada would reduce its reliance on Musk's Starlink satellite internet service. "Starlink we will diversify away from, no question." he said.
Carney Warns of Brexit-Style Crisis
The dispute comes as separatist sentiment in Alberta has gained organizational momentum. In February, volunteers with the Alberta Prosperity Project and allied groups pursued the roughly 177,000 signatures needed to trigger a citizen-initiated independence referendum. The campaign unfolded as Canada faced strained relations with the United States, including tariff disputes and annexation rhetoric.
Carney later warned that an Alberta referendum could create a Brexit-style crisis that Canada might struggle to reverse, calling Premier Danielle Smith's proposed October 19 referendum "a very dangerous bluff."
Associated Press
Updated Thu, October 8, 2026
Prime Minister Mark Carney announces a new federal heat pump rebate program while visiting Dettson, a manufacturer of residential and commercial HVAC systems in Sherbrooke, Quebec, Thursday, Oct. 8, 2026. (Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press via AP) (Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press via AP)
Prime Minister Mark Carney announces a new federal heat pump rebate program while visiting Dettson, a manufacturer of residential and commercial HVAC systems in Sherbrooke, Quebec, Thursday, Oct. 8, 2026. (Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press via AP) (Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press via AP)
Prime Minister Mark Carney, center right, arrives at Dettson, a manufacturer of residential and commercial HVAC systems in Sherbrooke, Quebec, Thursday, Oct. 8, 2026. (Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press via AP) (Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press via AP)
SHERBROOKE, Quebec (AP) — Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said Thursday that Canada's future will be decided by Canadians, pushing back on Elon Musk's call for Quebec, Alberta and Saskatchewan to separate from Canada.
"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 comments.
Carney said Canadians should be free to live according to their languages and cultures, without interference "from foreign governments and large tech firms that think they can tell us what to do."
Musk weighed in on Canada's separatist debates Wednesday in a post on X about Quebec Premier-designate Paul St-Pierre Plamondon, whose separatist Parti Québécois won Monday's provincial election.
The PQ's victory was not a mandate for independence. The party won about 28% of the popular vote and fell short of a majority of the seats in the Quebec legislature. Support for Quebec independence remains at about 30%, said Daniel Béland, a political science professor at McGill University in Montreal. He said the election was driven more by a desire to oust the Coalition Avenir Québec government than by support for separation.
"Good. Quebec should separate," Musk wrote, adding that "They would be better off. Alberta and Saskatchewan should separate too."
Alberta is scheduled to hold a vote Oct. 19 on whether the province should remain in Canada or move toward a future referendum on separation. Alberta Premier Danielle Smith has said she will vote to remain in Canada.
Smith said Thursday that separatist sentiment in her province has weakened as her government and Carney's have worked to address Albertans' 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 in Edmonton.
Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe responded to Musk on X with a single word: "No."
Musk, the world's richest man and first-ever trillionaire, is a South African-born Canadian-American.
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