Prime Minister Trudeau and provincial leaders meet to strategize against Trump’s proposed tariffs on Canadian imports

Ottawa: So, Canada’s premiers are meeting with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau today. They’re discussing how to respond to Trump’s threat of hefty tariffs on imports from Canada and Mexico.
Trump’s been talking about slapping a 25% tariff on all Canadian goods right from day one of his presidency. That’s a big deal, and he’s set to take office on Monday.
Finance Minister Dominic LeBlanc had a chat with Ontario Premier Doug Ford, who’s leading the premiers’ group, to figure out Canada’s game plan.
Ford thinks the border security plan is solid and wants it promoted. But just yesterday, he was critical of Trudeau’s government for not sharing enough details about it.
LeBlanc mentioned that they’re looking into how many jobs could be lost due to these tariffs, but he didn’t spill any details yet.
Ford estimates that Ontario alone could lose around 500,000 jobs if these tariffs go through. That’s a scary thought!
Trump’s been changing his tune lately, suggesting that Canada is getting a free ride from the U.S. and even joking about Canada becoming the 51st state.
Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly said they’ll also discuss retaliatory tariffs in the meeting with the premiers.
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith met Trump over the weekend and warned against blocking oil and gas exports to the U.S. She thinks that could lead to a “national unity crisis.”
When asked about blocking energy exports, both Ford and LeBlanc said they’re keeping all options open.
LeBlanc has met with Trump and his team a couple of times since the election, trying to keep the lines of communication open.
Quebec Premier Francois Legault even chatted with Trump back in December at a cathedral event in Paris.
Smith plans to attend Trump’s inauguration next week, which should be interesting.
Drew Fagan from the Munk School of Global Affairs believes Canada needs to present a united front to deal with the Trump administration effectively.
He pointed out that coordination and focus are key for Canada to negotiate successfully as the smaller party in these discussions.
This report was first published by The Canadian Press on January 15, 2025.