OTTAWA — Liberal cabinet ministers spent Tuesday morning downplaying the latest dig by U.S. president-elect Donald Trump, who called Prime Minister Justin Trudeau a “Governor” of “the Great State of Canada.”
Trump did so in a post overnight on his Truth Social account, saying it was a pleasure to have dined “with Governor Justin Trudeau of the Great State of Canada” and that he looked forward to seeing “the Governor again soon” to continue their “in depth talks on Tariffs and Trade.”
“The results of which will be truly speculator for all,” he wrote.
Trump’s comments come after sources told Fox News that during his recent dinner with Trudeau at his Mar-a-Lago estate, the president-elect talked about Canada becoming the 51st U.S. state — a comment that Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc, who was also attended dinner, later said was nothing more than a joke.
As they filed into their weekly cabinet meeting, ministers chalked Trump’s latest words up to being more of the same.
Health Minister Mark Holland said while he was unaware of the “context” of Trump’s comments, he told reporters he believes it was done in the spirit of “levity” during challenging global times.
“We have to all not react to every word because we don’t know the context, we can’t react to everything, we need to focus on being mature as a country.”
“It sounds like we’re living in an episode of South Park,” quipped Immigration Minister Marc Miller.
He added: “I don’t think we should necessarily look on Truth Social for public policy,” and that “all options” were on the table when it comes to responding to Trump’s threat of tariffs.
Avoiding the 25 per cent tariffs the president-elect has promised to slap on Canadian imports over his concerns about illegal border crossings and the flow of fentanyl into the U.S., has been top of mind for Trudeau, as his government prepares to table its fall economic statement next Monday, which is expected to contain millions more in new spending to increase border security.
Finance Minster Chrystia Freeland wouldn’t directly address reporters’ questions on Tuesday about whether she will blow past projected deficit of $40.1 billion, when she unveils the government’s updated spending plan.
LeBlanc has said that when it comes to border security, the government is prepared to provide the RCMP — which is responsible for policing between official ports of entry — with additional equipment, ranging from helicopters to drones.
Federal New Democrats have also called for at least 1,000 officers to be hired for Canada Border Services Agency.
RCMP Commissioner Mike Duheme told reporters last week the national force submitted its request for how many members it believes are needed to operate these new technologies and enhance its visibility along the Canada-U.S. border and that any final announcements would be coming from the federal government.
Trudeau met last week with federal opposition leaders to discuss his dinner with Trump and cautioned them against making public comments that could play into the president-elect’s criticisms of Canada. He later took specific aim at Opposition Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre’s comments in the House of Commons that Trudeau had “lost control of the borders.”
Speaking to the Halifax Chamber of Commerce on Monday, Trudeau raised the spectre that Canada would be prepared to impose retaliatory tariffs as it did when Trump slapped his own on Canadian steel and aluminum during the renegotiation of the North American Free Trade Agreement in 2018.
International Trade Minister Mary Ng told reporters on Tuesday Canada has to take Trump’s threat seriously and tariffs are concerning for the country’s economy.
“We’re doing that work right now, and we will have more to say in due course,” she said, when asked about what action it would be prepared to take.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford and other premiers are preparing to discuss Canada’s plan to avoid descending into a trade war with the U.S., when they meet on Wednesday, which follows a recent call they had with Trudeau.
National Post
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