Former Prime Ministers Jean Chrétien and Stephen Harper participated in a discussion on national unity this past Tuesday. The event was hosted by the C.D. Howe Institute during the annual Aaron Regent dinner and moderated by Bill Robson, the institute's president.

Before the discussion began, attendees were asked to express their level of concern regarding national unity. At the conclusion of the event, most participants reported feeling less concerned than they had initially. The insights shared by Chrétien and Harper, who collectively served as prime ministers for nearly 20 years, appeared to provide some reassurance.

Chrétien, now 91, spoke with energy and clarity. He expressed a relatively optimistic view about Alberta's discontent within Canada, despite his limited support from the province during his tenure as the federal Liberal leader. He emphasized the importance of recognizing Indigenous rights in pipeline projects and portrayed himself as a seasoned figure in the context of Quebec's two independence referendums. Notably, he did not address his controversial handling of the 1995 referendum, which he narrowly won by a mere 1.16 percent.

In contrast, Harper, who is recognized as Alberta's most successful federal politician, cautioned that the current federal government must address Alberta's aspirations to export oil and gas. He warned, "There will be serious problems" if these ambitions are not accommodated. Harper also touched on the issue of Quebec sovereignty, noting that even separatists in Quebec desire to maintain good relations with Canada. However, he did not delve deeply into the complexities of this issue.

Harper acknowledged Chrétien's role in initiating a period of balanced federal budgets but did not mention that this was largely achieved by reducing federal spending in areas shared with provinces, which subsequently shifted financial burdens to municipalities and property owners. Chrétien's initial motivation for fiscal restraint was reportedly sparked by a Wall Street Journal headline referring to the "Canadian Peso." While he and his former finance minister, Paul Martin, framed this as a commendable act of discipline, it ultimately led to 14 consecutive balanced budgets.

Chrétien expressed pride in Canada's lower per capita debt compared to other advanced nations but overlooked the current negative cash flow and declining per capita income. The discussion, while engaging and well-facilitated, left some attendees with concerns about the direction of national policy under Prime Minister Mark Carney. There are worries that Carney's focus on international appearances may overshadow substantive policy efforts.

Both former prime ministers appeared to have moved away from Pierre Trudeau's approach of defending the cultural rights of Canada's official communities, opting instead to downplay these issues in their remarks.