All 13 Canadian prime ministers gathered in Toronto today to discuss issues including health care, energy security and Canada-U.S. relations, as President Donald Trump threatens to impose 25% punitive tariffs on all Canadian goods. They will discuss the state’s most important issues.
The federation’s board meeting comes amid questions about how exactly Canada should respond to threats from the next U.S. president that, if carried out, could have devastating effects on the Canadian economy.
Prime ministers have collectively expressed alarm over the threat, but they have also proposed a range of ideas to tackle the problem.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford, who chairs the council, said: threatened with withholding energy exports If President Trump levels the tariffs, it will go to the United States. According to Ford, Ontario provides power to 1.5 million homes in U.S. states including Michigan, Minnesota and New York.
Chief political correspondent Rosemary Burton says Premier Doug Ford will consider cutting off Ontario’s energy supply if President Donald Trump goes ahead with his threat to impose 25 per cent tariffs on Canadian goods. I met with Stephen Lecce, Minister of Energy and Electrification, Ontario, regarding the project. Alberta’s Deputy Premier and Minister of Public Safety Mike Ellis discusses the province’s newly announced border security plan.
Ontario Energy Minister Stephen Lecce said Ford’s message to council was that “if something were to happen, we needed a strong and robust course of action that we could take from day one.” [the Americans] Please pursue this path. ”
“I think the psychology of the next president is that he respects strength,” Lecce said. rosemary burton live. “We need to show an element of strength and unity in this moment.”
In other prefectures, like albertahas said it does not support any tariffs on oil and gas destined for the United States and is instead urging diplomacy.
Alberta Premier Daniel Smith spoke about how Alberta is proactively securing its borders and meeting with U.S. allies to discuss how Alberta is proactively securing its borders and meeting with U.S. allies to help ensure North American energy security and affordability. “Do we share the importance of oil and gas to the state government?” he said.
“Furthermore, I reiterate that Alberta opposes any cuts or taxes on oil and gas exports to the United States,” Smith said in a statement to CBC on Saturday evening. “This is the strategy that Alberta is focused on, and the rest of Canada is as well.”
Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Andrew Furey told host Rosemary Barton that he expects the premiers to discuss the importance of a united response when they meet in Toronto.
“I’m worried that if every prime minister speaks out on a chaotic situation, it will create a situation that the next president will see as chaotic, and that will give the United States strength and influence as a result.” said Fury.
“I don’t think a trade war is good for Canada or the United States,” Fury added. “Let’s hope that the diplomatic channels bear fruit and prevent a trade war.”
Provinces want Ottawa to act
When Trump threatened with tariffs On social media, he called on both Canada and Mexico to curb the flow of drugs and immigrants from their countries into the United States.
On Wednesday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau met with the prime minister and others Discuss how Ottawa will address President Trump’s concerns.
After the meeting, Mr. Ford told reporters that what he had heard was a “good start” and that the goal now was to implement the plan.
When Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc met with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau regarding U.S.-Canada relations ahead of President-elect Donald Trump’s return to the White House, he said the prime ministers responded positively to the border plan presented by the federal government and expressed cooperation. He stated that he had made suggestions regarding.
The government is considering spending Spending hundreds of millions of dollars to secure the Canada-U.S. border It could possibly be more than $1 billion, sources told CBC News and Radio-Canada, to allay President Trump’s concerns.
Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc said parts of the federal government’s border plans will be revealed today when he releases the long-awaited autumn economic report, a document that is supposed to provide financial projections for the year ahead. said.
Lecce said the federal government has a path forward to reach a deal with the Trump administration, which also requires action on Canada’s defense spending, which has been a sticking point for U.S. officials.
“These issues regarding defense spending as a percentage of GDP have come up in almost every meeting I’ve been to,” Lecce said, referring to conversations in Washington and New York City. “This is a big concern for them.”
Late November, Prime Minister Trudeau told NATO allies He said Canada is on track to meet its commitment to spend 2 per cent of GDP on defense by 2032.
If Canada can address defense spending and border issues, “we believe we can really avoid this tariff scenario,” Lecce said.
The Prime Minister and his colleagues will hold a closing press conference today at 2:00 pm (Eastern Standard Time).
