Holt says premiers are united on Trump's tariff threat amid Trudeau turmoil
CBC
New Brunswick Premier Susan Holt took part in another premiers' meeting on Monday, a day of upheaval for the federal government.
The premiers' latest meeting on the Canadian response to U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's threat of 25 per cent tariffs on Canada, came on the same day as the shock resignation of Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland from the federal cabinet.
"More than ever, the premiers see the need to provide the kind of stable leadership that Canada needs right now in the face of a serious threat to Canadians, Canadians' jobs, our economy and our well-being," Holt said in an interview with CBC News as she was leaving Toronto after the premiers' meeting.
"And so we are. We all agree that we have to."
Hold said the premiers would work together to demonstrate Canada's commitment to NATO, the integrated economies between both countries, and how the tariffs would hurt both sides of the border.
It was announced late Monday afternoon that Dominic LeBlanc, a federal minister from New Brunswick, will replace Freeland as finance minister.
"It certainly would be great to have somebody who understands New Brunswick so well in that critical role," Holt said of LeBlanc.
"And really what we're looking for right now is to have a strong and stable negotiator to be leading the charge to demonstrate to the Trump administration why these tariffs are a really bad idea for Americans and Canadians and how there's a better path forward that we can do together."
LeBlanc was part of the group that went to Florida with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau recently to meet with Trump to discuss his tariff threat, but Holt said that meeting was only discussed briefly at Monday's premiers' meeting.
On a day when all federal opposition leaders called for Trudeau's resignation, Holt did not directly answer whether she still had faith in the prime minister to negotiate with Trump given the turmoil, but again the Liberal premier emphasized the strength of the premiers' group.
"I think what I have a lot of confidence in right now is the strength of Canada's premiers and the Council of Federation table," Holt said.
"And we are looking for the federal government to ensure that we have someone in place to co-ordinate and lead these negotiations who we know is gonna be there. And maybe it's away from some of the distractions of the moment in Ottawa."
Holt said it is important now to have "strong, aligned" premiers.
"Each of us has a stable mandate in our own provinces and a firm commitment to work together as a team for Canada."
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