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

Canada's premiers must take a bigger role in Canada-U.S. relations, Doug Ford said Monday on his way in to a meeting he is chairing with all 13 provincial and territorial leaders.

Canada’s premiers must take a bigger role in Canada-U.S. relations, Ontario Premier Doug Ford said Monday on his way in to a meeting he is chairing with all 13 provincial and territorial leaders.

Ford has been outspoken about the need for a co-ordinated strategy in response to a threat from U.S. president-elected Donald Trump, who has said he will impose a 25 per cent import tariff on goods coming from Canada and Mexico when he takes office.

Trump has suggested that the tariffs will come into place unless both countries stop illegal border crossings and prevent drugs like fentanyl from entering the U.S.

The premiers have had virtual meetings with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to discuss the tariffs, press him for more funding on border security and plan a co-ordinated response. Monday marks the first time the premiers gather to strategize in person.

“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 said.

His comments came in response to a question about whether the federal government has too many other fires to put out to focus on tariffs and the border and were made just minutes before Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland, who also served as the deputy prime minister, announced her resignation from cabinet.

“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 said.

Ford has come out strongly in favour of retaliatory tariffs and has threatened to in turn cut off the electricity the province supplies to several states.