OTTAWA – Apna Punjab Media – Industry Minister François-Philippe Champagne said Wednesday that he’s confident all the premiers will get on board with a unified “Team Canada” approach to deal with Donald Trump’s tariff threat.
His confidence comes despite signs of early cracks in that unity ahead of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s emergency meeting with the premiers this afternoon.
Trump said in a social media post Monday night that he would impose 25 per cent tariffs until Canada and Mexico stop illegal border crossings and prevent drugs such as fentanyl from entering the U.S.
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith and Quebec Premier François Legault have both said his concerns about the U.S.-Canada border are legitimate and need to be addressed.
In Quebec City Wednesday morning, Legault said that Trudeau should present a plan to reassure the incoming president that Canada’s border is secure and not try to deny that there’s a problem.
Heading into a Liberal caucus meeting, Champagne said Ottawa is in agreement that it should “double down” on the border with more assets, and that he’s asking the premiers to work with the federal government.
“My appeal to all the premiers: let’s work together,” he said. “The best way has always been to be united and to have the united front to face challenges when it comes to to the United States.” Trudeau and the premiers are set to hold a virtual meeting at 5 p.m. with Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland, Public Safety and Intergovernmental Affairs Minister Dominic LeBlanc and Canada’s ambassador to the United States, Kirsten Hillman.
