Canada’s premiers meet to talk tariffs, trade amid chaos in Ottawa

Ontario Premier Doug Ford emphasized the need for Canada’s premiers to play a larger role in Canada-U.S. relations during a meeting he chaired with all 13 provincial and territorial leaders.

Ford has been vocal about the necessity of a coordinated response to the threat posed by U.S. president-elect Donald Trump’s plan to impose a 25 per cent import tariff on goods from Canada and Mexico upon taking office.

Trump has linked the imposition of tariffs to stopping illegal border crossings and the flow of drugs like fentanyl into the U.S.

The premiers have engaged in virtual meetings with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to address the tariffs, request increased funding for border security, and strategize a united response. This meeting marks the first in-person gathering of the premiers for this purpose.

“I think it’s critical the premiers take a bigger role, because it’s going to affect each province and each territory and we’ll definitely be taking a bigger role,” Ford stated.

His remarks came in response to concerns about whether the federal government is too preoccupied with other issues to focus on tariffs and border security. Shortly after his statement, Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland announced her resignation from cabinet.

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“As for the federal government, there’s a lot of stuff going on up there right now, so I’ll leave it at that, but I can assure you that the premiers will take a very big role on the negotiations,” Ford assured.

Ford has advocated for retaliatory tariffs and even threatened to cut off electricity supplied by the province to certain states in response.

While Ford has been firm in his stance on retaliatory measures, other premiers, like Alberta’s Danielle Smith, have favored a more diplomatic approach and opposed retaliatory tariffs or halting oil and gas exports from Alberta.

Topics on the agenda for the meeting include Canada-U.S. relations, energy security, and healthcare, with a focus on safeguarding Canadian jobs and fostering stronger partnerships across the border.

“With a new administration taking office in the United States, it’s never been more important for Canada’s premiers to work together to protect Canadian jobs and build up stronger partnerships on both sides of the border,” Ford stated in a pre-meeting announcement.

“As premiers, we’re focused on protecting jobs and attracting investment, while also continuing our work to strengthen health care, including the importance of accelerating patient access to new and life-saving medications.”

Ford has also considered limiting the Liquor Control Board of Ontario’s purchases of American-made alcohol, as it is one of the largest alcohol buyers globally.

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