QUESTION PERIOD — Prime Minister’s Office
National Unity
February 5, 2026
Senator Moreau, yesterday evening, some of us gathered to commemorate the twentieth anniversary of the election of the Right Honourable Stephen Harper’s Conservative government. Frankly, it took us back to another time, a time when national unity wasn’t a daily crisis. Canada had agreements, of course, but under Stephen Harper’s government, the provinces and the regions remained united within a united Canada. Today, under another Liberal government, we’re discussing the future of Confederation in Alberta and Quebec, and sovereignist sentiment is back with a vengeance.
Why is it that every Liberal government leaves the country more divided than it found it? How do you do that?
At breakfast this morning, I had the privilege of meeting Prime Minister Harper and congratulating him on the speech he gave at the unveiling of his portrait. I told him how moved I’d been to see that each of the prime ministers present — whether Prime Minister Chrétien, Prime Minister Carney or Prime Minister Harper — regardless of their origin or political stripe, were fully committed to Canadian unity.
Senator Housakos, I urge you to do the same. During Question Period in the Senate, I urge you not to encourage movements that are trying to divide Canada. I urge you to remind Quebecers, Albertans and all Canadians that we have to pull together to keep this great country of ours united.
We do that every day, and we also give you good ideas. Sometimes you adopt them and sometimes you don’t. Senator Moreau, you may disagree with what I said, but facts are facts. From Pierre Trudeau to Justin Trudeau, and now with Prime Minister Mark Carney, why do the Liberals have a habit of dividing provinces and reviving discussions about separation? The Parti Québécois in Quebec is exploding in popularity, and Alberta is also facing some challenges. Tell us why this always happens under a Liberal government. It never happened under Mr. Mulroney or Mr. Harper.
If you want to talk about Quebec politics, I’m in a good position to discuss that with you. Perhaps you shouldn’t worry so much about the polls. A distinction must be made between polls that measure the popularity of political parties and polls that measure the popularity of the sovereignty option, which is at its lowest point in 20 years or more. I hope you’ll help us ensure that this fervour diminishes even further in the coming months, Senator Housakos.
