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Canada’s premiers are sitting down with Prime Minister Mark Carney Thursday in Charlottetown, where they say they’re hoping for more insight into how he plans to negotiate with U.S. President Donald Trump.
The 13 provincial and territorial leaders are in Prince Edward Island for their annual summer meetings. The agenda was uprooted when the U.S. administration announced that it will impose 50 per cent tariffs on billions of dollars’ worth of Canadian imports come Aug. 19.
Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew said he’s looking for more details during the face-to-face meeting about what measures the federal government is looking at if talks sour before that deadline.
“I think the American president is very vulnerable right now. The cost of living is a political disaster for Donald Trump,” Kinew said on Tuesday.
Prime Minister Mark Carney says trade talks are ramping up after U.S. President Donald Trump threatened new 50 per cent tariffs on Canadians goods. Several premiers pushed back by suggesting retaliatory tariffs and vowing to keep American booze off shelves.
“A lot of people in Canada are saying in order for us to get a [Canada–U.S.–Mexico Agreement] deal, we should give them a win. I’m wondering whether we should.”
British Columbia Premier David Eby said his province is ready to act.
“If the prime minister calls British Columbia and says he needs support with some big sticks to have conversations at the table then we will be there,” he said during a news conference on Wednesday with his counterparts.
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith has said she doesn’t believe in retaliatory tariffs.
She struck a positive tone during the same news conference saying she’s hoping the outstanding tariffs — including those on the auto, steel, aluminum and softwood industries — can also be dealt with in the coming weeks.
“I think this is a window — this month that we have or 28 days — to sharpen the pencils and sharpen the focus,” she said.
Carney is expected to take media questions later in the day.
