Canada’s premiers and Prime Minister Mark Carney met in Saskatoon today for a rare First Ministers’ Meeting in Saskatchewan, the first in more than four decades, to chart a path toward a stronger, more competitive, and resilient national economy.
At the top of the agenda was the growing wildfire crisis, particularly affecting Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta. First Ministers expressed solidarity with impacted provinces and Indigenous communities and pledged continued support.
But the central focus of the meeting was economic growth and unlocking Canada’s project potential.
The federal government presented its proposed One Canadian Economy legislation, aimed at removing internal trade barriers and fast-tracking projects of national interest.
These include infrastructure, energy, and clean growth initiatives that meet specific criteria — from boosting resilience and Indigenous partnerships to offering clear national economic benefits.
“We are committed to making Canada the most competitive economy in the G7,” said Prime Minister Carney, who emphasized the need for faster project approvals and improved coordination among jurisdictions.
Premiers welcomed a commitment that all federal assessment decisions on major projects would be rendered within two years.
The First Ministers also endorsed the principle of “one project, one review”, streamlining approval processes while respecting federal, provincial, and territorial jurisdictions.
They pledged to ensure Indigenous consultation obligations are met and to explore new models of Indigenous equity participation, enabling generational economic opportunities.
Nation-building infrastructure — including highways, pipelines, ports, and clean energy corridors — was identified as key to enhancing Canadian productivity and energy security.
The leaders agreed that critical minerals, clean energy, and decarbonized oil and gas must reach global markets such as Asia and Europe, supported by private-sector investment.
The North also featured prominently in the discussions. First Ministers underscored the need for dual-use infrastructure investments in Northern and Arctic regions that serve both community development and national sovereignty goals.
They welcomed federal pledges to improve defence capabilities and meet international spending benchmarks.
On internal trade, progress was noted through the work of the Committee on Internal Trade and the Forum of Labour Market Ministers.
A comprehensive Mutual Recognition Agreement for consumer goods is now targeted for completion by December 2025, alongside new measures to speed up trucking permits and credential recognition.
International trade tensions were also addressed. First Ministers called for a unified front in pushing the U.S. to drop longstanding tariffs on Canadian softwood lumber and backed federal efforts to remove Chinese tariffs on agricultural and seafood exports.
They also discussed market diversification strategies amid ongoing uncertainty.
Public safety was another shared concern. The premiers and prime minister committed to reforms in bail and sentencing laws, tackling delays in the justice system, and cracking down on repeat violent offenders.
They also pledged to confront the ongoing toxic drug crisis by dismantling the illicit fentanyl trade and instructing justice and public safety ministers to draft a coordinated action plan.
Closing the summit, First Ministers committed to ongoing cooperation and regular meetings to advance national priorities and reinforce Canada’s economic and security resilience.
This report is based on the official joint statement released June 2, 2025, following the First Ministers’ Meeting in Saskatoon
