OTTAWA — The chair of Canada’s premiers had a message for Americans walking into Wednesday’s meeting with the prime minister, called to discuss the country’s plan should U.S-president elect Donald Trump make good on his threat to slap a 25 per cent tariff on Canadian goods.
“Canada is not for sale,” were the words emblazoned on the hat worn by Ontario Premier Doug Ford— a nod to Trump’s frequents comments of Canada being a “51st state.”
Canadian officials initially brushed the statement off as a joke. But with Trump’s swearing-in only five days away and the threat of his incoming administration applying across-the-board tariffs on Canadian products becoming a worrying inevitability, it’s clear leaders are increasingly losing their sense of humour.
“President Trump tries to divide us” Ford told reporters.
“The country comes first and we will continue to fight these tariffs and we will use every tool at our disposal.”
Agreeing on what exactly those tools might be is expected to top the discussion when premiers sit down with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, which will be the first face-to-face meeting the group has had since Trudeau announced his resignation on Jan. 6.
With talk of Canada preparing a package of retaliatory tariffs and other counter measures, western premiers say they want the idea floated by some, including Ford, of blocking energy exports to be off the table, along with applying any export tariffs.
“It would be the most divisive conversation that this nation would ever have,” warned Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe.
Over the weekend, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith made that case publicly after taking a trip to shake hands with Trump at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida, which raised some eyebrows among Canadian officials about how unified of a front Canadian premiers were presenting.
Speaking ahead of Wednesday’s meeting, Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew emphasized the important of maintaining unity, when asked about the idea of blocking energy exports.
“The role that I want to have is to urge unity and that we have a comprehensive approach.”
Canada’s energy sector is the queen in the game of chess, said Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Andrew Furey.
“We don’t need to expose our queen too early. The opposition needs to know that our queen exists, but they don’t need to know what we are going to do with the queen.”
“Let’s see what the tariffs are first and have a proportional, but a strong response to the United States,” Furey added.
Speaking at the start of the meeting, Trudeau said there were two main themes on the agenda. First, opportunities to expand and deepen partnerships with the Americans, and then Canada’s response to potential tariffs coming that afternoon.
“It’s an important moment for Canadians to see us coming together to work to deal with the most important relationship.”
Participating on the federal side is Finance Minister Dominic LeBlanc, Foreign Affairs Mélanie Joly and Canada Ambassador to the United States, Kristen Hillman. Smith and British Columbia Premier David Eby are joining virtually.
For weeks, federal and provincial leaders have been making the case to governors and everyday Americans, including through TV appearances, that slapping tariffs on Canadian goods would be bad for the U.S.
In an op-ed published Wednesday in The Hill, Quebec Premier Francois Legault argued “that tariffs of 25 per cent on exports from Canada and Mexico would reduce American GDP by at least 1 per cent over one year, not to mention inflation.”
“Tariffs of 25 per cent would therefore only result in increasing the prices of beer cans, car parts, airplane parts and a host of other products for American consumers and businesses,” he wrote.
He then pointed to how Quebec is a major supplier for the American military aviation industry, such as engines, landing gear and flight simulators.
Legault also emphasized one of Quebec’s greatest assets: its electricity. The province exports its electricity to the U.S, including via a transmission line to New York State
“This clean, dependable, and cheap electricity is an extraordinary advantage for New Yorkers and their businesses. It lowers the cost of energy for Trump Tower, to give just one example.”
Getting everyone to agree on the best approach is easier said than done, according to Prince Edward Island Dennis King.
“It’s hard to bring 13 premiers and the prime minister together and agree to the color of cheesies,” he said.
“But I do think at our root, we are about trying to do what’s best for Canada, and I think we’re going to try to find a very unique way to get to that today, or at least, I hope so.”
National Post
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