Quebec's Jean Charest and Newfoundland and Labrador's Kathy Dunderdale have emerged from the premiers' summit as two unlikely allies, warning their Western counterparts not to let the dispute over the controversial Northern Gateway pipeline escalate.
Behind closed doors on Friday morning, it was a reluctant Mr. Charest who acted as a statesman, urging the premiers to stand together instead of standing off.
He did not want to get involved in other premiers' business - but he had seen this script before.
Mr. Charest, who spoke passionately about how interprovincial spats can play out, reminded his colleagues of the nearly 50-year-old rift between his province and Newfoundland over the Upper Churchill Falls hydroelectric project.
Ms. Dunderdale echoed his sentiments, according to sources, as the premiers discussed a pan-Canadian energy strategy, which was fraught with tension over the war of words between British Columbia Premier ...