Carney says Canadians will decide Canada’s future after Musk post

Prime Minister Mark Carney said Thursday that Canadians, not foreign governments or large technology firms, would decide Canada’s future, responding to Elon Musk’s call for Quebec, Alberta and Saskatchewan to separate from the country. Musk posted on X on Wednesday that Quebec should separate and would be better off, adding that Alberta and Saskatchewan should also leave. Carney addressed the comments at a news conference in Sherbrooke, Quebec, saying Canadians should be free to live according to their languages and cultures without outside interference. The exchange followed a provincial election in Quebec on Monday in which the separatist Parti Québécois won a minority government. The party fell short of a legislative majority. Its victory does not itself mean Quebec will hold a referendum or become independent. Party leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon has pledged not to hold a referendum while U.S. President Donald Trump remains in office. The party would also need support in the National Assembly to adopt a referendum question. Carney said he had a cordial first conversation with Plamondon this week, touching on investment in Quebec, immigration and other matters.