Ontario Premier Doug Ford says Alberta Premier Danielle Smith understands why Canadian political leaders need to unite in the face of U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariff threat, and believes the country’s premiers are “moving her” into office.
The premiers met virtually with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Wednesday morning to talk about Trump’s early moves as president and the looming threat of tariffs, which could come as soon as next week.
Trump signed an executive order on Monday directing his government to study alleged unfair trade practices by Canada and Mexico and submit a report by April 1.
Later that day, he considered imposing 25 per cent tariffs on both countries by February 1, calling Canada a “very bad violator” for allowing illegal drugs and immigrants into the United States.
Canada responded to Trump’s assertion with Trudeau saying on Tuesday that less than one per cent of fentanyl or migrants entering the United States come from Canada.
Speaking to reporters in Toronto after Wednesday’s meeting, Ford said the group wants to make sure Canada has a “robust plan.”
“We know those tariffs are coming on February 1. We need to match those tariffs dollar for dollar, tariff for tariff, and make sure they hurt Americans as much as they hurt Canadians,” he said.
The federal Liberal Cabinet spent two days meeting this week detailing a plan to respond to the tariffs.
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Trump has been threatening since the November elections to impose tariffs on his first day in office.
Trudeau told reporters on Tuesday that the shifts in Trump’s rhetoric and timelines are on track. He said his government has made plans for a variety of scenarios and is prepared to implement retaliatory tariffs.
At their last meeting, held in person in Ottawa last week, 12 of the 13 prime ministers signed a joint statement pledging to stand united in the face of the threat of tariffs.
Premier Smith was the only one to say she could not join the “Team Canada” approach if the federal government refused to exempt energy exports from its potential retaliatory measures.
In the days that followed, she distanced herself from the group by meeting with US lawmakers and calling for cooperation rather than retaliation.
Ford said Wednesday that Smith “understands that we need to be united, and I understand that she wants to protect her core commodity.”
He added: “But the homeland comes first, before anything, and you cannot throw a tool out of the toolbox.”
When asked if Smith now stands with her colleagues, Ford said: “I think we’re going with her.”
Smith posted on social media Wednesday afternoon to say that stifling or taxing oil exports to the United States “would be disastrous for Canada.”
Canada called for improving border security and boosting defense spending.
When he initially threatened the tariffs, Trump said they were a response to what he described as inaction by Canada and Mexico on illegal drugs and immigrants entering the United States.
The federal government announced a $1.3 billion plan to beef up border security in December, and this week the Royal Canadian Mounted Police deployed two new helicopters to monitor the border.
But Trump also said the tariffs are a way to pressure Canada over the US trade deficit with that country.
Smith said Canada must work to address the trade imbalance.
“Let’s tone down the rhetoric and focus on reaching negotiated solutions that benefit Canadians and Americans,” Smith wrote.
On Tuesday, Arlene Dickinson, the star of “Dragon’s Den” and a member of the prime minister’s advisory council on Canada-U.S. relations, said she hoped Smith would come along.
“I think it is very important that we negotiate as one country together,” she told reporters at the Cabinet Resort in Montebello, Que.
The first ministers have committed to holding weekly meetings now that Trump has been inaugurated in the White House.
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