Carney warns constitutional reforms ‘difficult,’ says he’s after ‘common solutions’

OTTAWA – One day following Alberta's vote to reject separatism, Prime Minister Mark Carney expressed his preference for pursuing "pragmatic common solutions" with the provinces on matters under federal jurisdiction.

Carney cautioned that constitutional reforms could be a "difficult" and lengthy process. He also stated that certain disputes, like those in immigration, could be settled without constitutional amendments.

As he welcomed the outcomes of the Alberta referendum, which resulted in roughly three-quarters of the province voting against separation from Canada, Carney highlighted nine other referendum questions that proposed various constitutional changes. These included abolishing the Senate and granting provinces the power to appoint Superior Court judges.

Despite Carney's initial stance that Albertans should vote "no to the nine," he told Alberta broadcaster Ryan Jespersen prior to the referendum that he was "open" to constitutional reforms when there is "consensus."