OTTAWA — Canada’s premiers are asking Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to hold an urgent first ministers meeting ahead of the return to office of president-elect Donald Trump.
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The re-election of the often unpredictable and protectionist former president has spooked a number of countries as they wait to see if he makes good on promises of mass deportation of undocumented residents and across-the-board import tariffs.
Premier Doug Ford, who chairs the premiers’ association known as the Council of the Federation, told Trudeau in a letter Monday that premiers want to be part of a “Team Canada” approach to everything from trade and secure borders to energy, defence and cross-border supply chains.
He says they also want clarity on how Ottawa will engage with them about the upcoming review of the North American free-trade agreement, which has to happen in 2026.
The federal cabinet committee on Canada-U.S. relations that was restored earlier this month after the U.S. election is meeting Monday afternoon.