Hours after Chrystia Freeland’s sudden cabinet resignation sent shockwaves across Ottawa, Ontario Premier Doug Ford touted Canadian premiers’ solidarity amid threat of tariffs south of the border. There is.
“Today is an important reminder of how important it is for Prime Ministers to work together. No matter what happens in Ottawa, all of us Prime Ministers stand together as ‘Team Canada’ and will continue to work through this uncertain time.” We will continue to provide stable leadership during these difficult times,” Ford said after Monday’s meeting of premiers, which he chaired.
On Monday morning, Freeland suddenly announced his resignation from the cabinet in a letter to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. In it, she said Prime Minister Trudeau told her on Friday that he no longer wanted her to serve as finance minister.
The news comes at the latest in US President-elect Donald Trump’s threat to impose a 25% tariff on all Canadian imports if he takes office in January unless both Canada and Mexico strengthen their borders. It was announced during. The potential tax was a central topic at Monday’s meeting of premiers, with Ford and the 12 premiers saying they agreed there was “no further significant risk” to Canada’s economy.
“The imposition of tariffs by the United States would be a major failure of the federal government. A full ‘Team Canada’ approach is needed to protect workers. This means the federal government needs to meet regularly with the Prime Minister and members of his team who have a role in the relationship with the United States, and to strengthen collaboration with the Prime Minister when dealing with tariff threats.” Mr. Ford said.
Ford added that the strategy must include plans to accelerate NATO spending to meet the 2% goal, as well as aggressive steps to secure our borders. He stressed that prime ministers have been briefed on Ottawa’s border plan but need to see more details about when and how it will be implemented.
Asked if he was still confident that Prime Minister Trudeau would lead Canada into a potential trade war, Ford again emphasized unity with the other countries, saying everyone would be “at the table.” Ta.
Ford: Retaliatory tariffs: ‘No retreat’
Ford’s call for a unified approach to countering President Trump’s tariff threats on Monday is a sharp departure from Trump’s stance last week.
At an unrelated press conference on Friday, Ontario’s 1.5 million households in New York, Michigan and Minnesota will He doubled down on his threat to cut off industrial energy. Legault, Quebec.
“If it’s Alberta or Quebec, that’s their choice. They believe in diplomacy, good luck,” he said at the time.
Asked if Monday’s more toned-down remarks meant it was reconsidering retaliatory tariffs, Ontario said it was “not backing down at all.”
Ford also threatened to restrict the LCBO’s purchases of U.S.-produced alcohol, halt exports of critical minerals, and remove the U.S. from the state’s procurement process. He said he hopes he and all prime ministers will visit Washington in February after Trump takes office in January.
Ford says PM is concerned about Freeland’s resignation
Asked about Freeland’s resignation earlier in the day, Ford said he and other premiers were concerned and had discussed it after Freeland made the announcement.
Freeland has served in some capacity in Trudeau’s cabinet since he was elected prime minister in 2015.
She was a key figure in renegotiating the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) during the first President Trump’s era. President Trump said he plans to trigger the six-year renegotiation clause of the agreement, now known as the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA), in 2026. Meanwhile, Premier Ford indicated that all prime ministers agree that Canada should pursue a bilateral agreement. Sign a direct trade agreement with the United States.
