OTTAWA -- Prime Minister Mark Carney will chair a virtual meeting with the premiers Wednesday afternoon as his government prepares for major trade talks and new online harms legislation that is expected to include a social media ban for youths.
Manitoba and Quebec are both working toward provincial laws banning children and teens under a certain age from social media, while other provinces have shown support for or interest in the idea.
The federal government is expected to unveil its online harms legislation later Wednesday.
Carney said Wednesday that he and the premiers will talk about the government’s national electricity strategy to double the amount of power generated by 2050.
This will be the first meeting of all premiers since Alberta Premier Danielle Smith announced a fall referendum to consider a future referendum on separation.
Tensions persist between the Alberta and B.C. governments over a proposed oil pipeline to the West Coast. Carney has agreed to work toward that project with the Smith government.
The meeting comes just weeks before the mandatory review of the Canada-United States-Mexico agreement on trade begins on July 1.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford was in Washington this week to advocate for continued free trade between Canada and the U.S.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 29, 2026.
