All 13 of Canada's premiers will meet in Toronto today to discuss top issues including health care, energy security and Canada-US relations, as Donald Trump threatens to impose 25 per cent tariffs on all Canadian goods.
The Council of the Federation meeting comes amid questions about how Canada should actually respond to the US president-elect's threats, which if implemented could have devastating effects on the Canadian economy.
The premiers have collectively expressed concern about the threat, but they have also offered different ideas to tackle the problem.
The Council is chaired by Ontario Premier Doug Ford Warning to stop energy exports If Trump raises the level of tariffs in the US. Ford says Ontario will deliver electricity to 1.5 million homes in US states like Michigan, Minnesota and New York.
Chief Political Correspondent Rosemary Barton talks to Ontario Energy and Electrification Minister Stephen Lacey about whether Premier Doug Ford will consider cutting Ontario's energy supply if Donald Trump goes ahead with his threat to impose 25 per cent tariffs on Canadian goods. Alberta Deputy Premier and Minister of Public Safety Mike Ellis talks about that province's newly unveiled border security plan.
Ontario Energy Minister Stephen Lacey said Ford's message to the council “is that if (the Americans) follow this path, there needs to be stronger and stronger actions to implement on day one.”
“I think the psychology of the president-elect is that he respects power,” Lacey said Rosemary Barton Live. “We need to demonstrate an element of strength and unity at this moment.”
other states, Like AlbertaThey do not support any tariffs on oil and gas going to the US and are instead calling for diplomacy.
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith said she will share with her provincial counterparts “how Alberta is proactively securing our borders and sharing the importance of Alberta oil and gas to ensuring North American energy security and affordability with our partners in the US.”
“Furthermore, I reiterate that Alberta opposes cutting or taxing its oil and gas exports to the U.S.,” Smith said in a statement to the CBC on Saturday evening. “This strategy will be focused on Alberta — like the rest of Canada.”
Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Andrew Furey told host Rosemary Barton that he expects the premiers to discuss the importance of a joint response at a meeting in Toronto.
“I'm concerned that if every prime minister has his own take on chaotic matters, we create a scene that could be perceived as chaotic by the incoming president and subsequently give the United States a position of strength and leverage,” Furey said.
“I don't think a trade war is good for Canada, it's not good for the United States,” Furey added. “Let's hope that diplomatic channels can bear fruit and prevent a trade war.”
The provinces want action from Ottawa
When Trump issued his tariff threat On social media, he called on both Canada and Mexico to stop the flow of drugs and immigration from their countries into the US.
On Wednesday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau… Met with the Prime Minister Ottawa to discuss how to address Trump's concerns.
After the meeting, Ford told reporters that what he had heard was a “good start” and that the goal was now to implement the plan.
Public Safety Minister Dominique LeBlanc met with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on US-Canada relations before President-elect Donald Trump's return to the White House, where the prime ministers responded positively to the federal government's border plan and offered suggestions for cooperation.
The government has thought of spending Billions of dollars to secure the Canada-US border — possibly more than $1 billion — in an effort to ease Trump's concerns, sources told CBC News and Radio-Canada.
Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc said part of the federal government's border plan will be revealed today when it presents the much-anticipated fall economic statement, with the document expected to offer fiscal projections for the coming year.
Lessey said the federal government has a path to compromise with the Trump administration, which he also needs to take action on Canada's defense spending — a sticking point for U.S. officials.
“These issues of GDP spending on defense have come up in every meeting I've had,” Lacey said, referring to his conversations in Washington and New York City. “It's a real concern for them.”
At the end of November, Trudeau told NATO allies Canada is on track to meet its commitment to spend two percent of GDP on defense by 2032.
If Canada can address defense spending and border concerns, “I believe we can really prevent this tariff scenario,” Lacey said.
The prime ministers will hold a closing press conference today at 2pm ET.
Source link
