A Premier Who Isn't Staying Quiet
Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew has never been one to shy away from a fight, and lately he's been picking two very big ones: the growing separatist murmur in Western Canada, and the unchecked reach of big tech into the lives of Canadian kids.
In a recent conversation on CBC's Front Burner, Kinew laid out his thinking on both fronts — and it's clear he sees them as connected to the same larger question: what kind of country do Canadians want to build together?
Taking a Stand Against Separatism
With separatist sentiment bubbling in Alberta and parts of Saskatchewan — fuelled in part by frustration over federal policies and trade tensions with the United States — Kinew has been one of the louder voices urging Canadians to resist the pull toward division.
For Kinew, this isn't just political posturing. As Manitoba's first First Nations premier, he brings a perspective shaped by Indigenous history and the long struggle to belong fully within Canada's story. He's argued that now, more than ever, is the time for nation-building — not nation-breaking.
"We need to be focused on what brings us together," Kinew has said, pointing to shared infrastructure, clean energy corridors, and coast-to-coast economic projects as the kinds of investments that remind Canadians they're stronger as a federation.
It's a message that resonates well beyond Manitoba's borders. At a time when provincial tensions are running high, a premier willing to openly defend Canadian unity carries real political weight.
Banning Social Media for Youth
On the tech front, Kinew has added his voice to a growing chorus of Canadian leaders calling for restrictions on social media access for young people. The argument isn't new — Australia made headlines earlier this year by banning under-16s from major platforms — but it's gaining momentum in Canada.
Kinew's concern is straightforward: social media platforms are designed to be addictive, and they're doing measurable harm to kids' mental health, social development, and attention spans. He wants Canada to act, not just study the issue.
The debate is a live one federally, with Ottawa watching international models closely. Canada's own Online Harms Act has been years in the making, and advocates say it doesn't go nearly far enough when it comes to protecting minors from algorithmic exploitation.
Why This Matters for Canada
What makes Kinew's interventions interesting is that he's threading a needle most politicians avoid: he's pro-Canada and pro-regulation, at a moment when both positions can feel unfashionable in certain circles.
His push for nation-building projects — think energy east-style corridors, Indigenous economic partnerships, east-west trade routes that reduce reliance on American markets — fits into a broader conversation Canadians are having about sovereignty and self-sufficiency in the face of U.S. trade pressure.
And his tech stance reflects a growing parental anxiety that cuts across partisan lines. Whether you're in Winnipeg, Vancouver, or Ottawa, the worry about what screens are doing to kids is real and widespread.
Kinew isn't the only premier making noise these days, but he might be one of the most interesting. Worth paying attention to.
Source: CBC Front Burner. Original interview available at cbc.ca.
