Nova Scotia premier blasts Bloc leader for calling Canada 'artificial country'

Darren Major · CBC News

· Posted: Apr 26, 2025 11:39 AM EDT | Last Updated: 10 minutes ago

Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston is stepping into the national fray, blasting the person of the Bloc Québécois for calling Canada an "artificial country."

At a run halt earlier this week, Yves-François Blanchet said helium felt similar helium was a subordinate of a "foreign parliament."

When asked astir those comments connected Friday, Blanchet doubled down.

"We are, [whether] we similar it oregon not, portion of an artificial state with precise small meaning called Canada," helium said.

"It's a overseas parliament due to the fact that this federation is not mine. I don't consciousness much astatine easiness successful the Canadian Parliament than [Alberta Premier Danielle] Smith would consciousness astatine easiness successful the Assemblée nationale du Québec."

In a missive addressed to Blanchet, Houston said helium was "dismayed" to spot the Bloc leader's comments.

"I find it hard to find the words to adequately picture however insulting this connection is to each Canadians and to our large nation," Houston wrote successful the letter, which was posted connected his societal media connected Friday night.

"I would anticipation that anyone asking for the honour of representing Canadians would consciousness that same pridefulness successful this state and perpetually enactment to bash immoderate it takes to marque things amended for the radical and places they serve."

Comments not 'meant arsenic an insult,' Blanchet says

Blanchet defended his comments connected Saturday, saying they weren't "meant arsenic an insult," and pointed to erstwhile premier curate Justin Trudeau saying Canada is simply a "post-national state" successful a 2015 interrogation with the New York Times.

"[Canada] has been pulled unneurotic done past with the anticipation of making Quebecers Canadians similar immoderate different Canadians and it failed. So possibly this state is simply a spot artificial," Blanchet said.

"Quebec is thing but a post-national nation; it's a arrogant nation."

WATCH | Blanchet stands by his assertion that Canada is an 'artificial country': 

In his letter, Houston said Blanchet should resign arsenic an MP if helium believes Canada is artificial.

"I anticipation going guardant you volition bespeak connected what it means to beryllium Canadian and instrumentality much pridefulness and honour successful being an elected authoritative successful Canada. If you can't bash that, I would inquire you to measurement speech successful favour of those who enactment state first," Houston wrote.

Blanchet was asked Saturday if helium would see Houston's proposition oregon constitute backmost to the premier.

"No and no," helium said.

WATCH | Carney responds to Blanchet's comments:

Liberal Leader Mark Carney seemed to subtly code Blanchet's "artificial country" comments during a run code connected Saturday morning.

"Some people, connected some sides of our border, assertion that we're not a real country," helium said, without specifically mentioning Blanchet. "They couldn't beryllium much wrong.

"Canada is much than a nation. We are a confederation. A ineffable set of ideas and ideals built connected applicable foundations."

During the campaign, Carney has mostly tried to presumption himself arsenic the champion idiosyncratic to woody with U.S. President Donald Trump. Since his inauguration, Trump has repeatedly said Canada should go the 51st authorities and astatine 1 constituent referred to the Canada-U.S. borderline arsenic an "artificially drawn line."

After Carney's code connected Saturday, reporters asked the Liberal person to straight respond to Blanchet's comments.

"I cull them completely," helium said. "This is an unthinkable country. I americium incredibly arrogant to beryllium Canadian."