Ontario Premier Doug Ford has urged Canada’s leaders to put national interests first in responding to president-elect Donald Trump’s proposed tariffs, while Alberta Premier Danielle Smith has declined to back the joint strategy.
At a First Ministers’ meeting in Ottawa on Wednesday, Ford and 12 other premiers joined Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in condemning Trump’s proposed 25 per cent tariffs on Canadian goods. The premiers and Trudeau emphasized the need for a united front to counter the economic threat.
Speaking after the meeting, Ford expressed concern over Alberta Premier Danielle Smith’s refusal to support the plan, citing her focus on protecting Alberta’s energy sector.
“That’s her choice, but I believe Canada must come first,” Ford said. “President-elect Trump’s proposed tariffs target Canadians as a whole. United we stand, divided we fall.”
Ford arrived at the meeting wearing a hat emblazoned with the phrase ‘Canada is not for sale,’ underscoring his stance on national unity in the face of economic aggression.
Smith, who joined the meeting virtually from Panama, declined to sign the final communique endorsed by the other premiers and Trudeau. In a social media post, she stated her opposition was due to federal officials’ suggestions of cutting Alberta’s energy exports to the U.S. as part of a retaliatory strategy.
“Until these threats cease, Alberta will not be able to fully support the federal government’s plan in dealing with the threatened tariffs,” Smith wrote.
The communique, signed by 12 premiers and Trudeau, outlines plans to deter Trump’s tariffs and prepare a robust response if they are imposed. Measures under consideration include cutting energy exports to the U.S., imposing retaliatory tariffs on American goods, and enhancing border security to curb illegal smuggling.
Trudeau said any retaliation would be “equitable and fair” but stressed the need for decisive action.
“We’re going to have to look at everything we can,” Trudeau said. “Nothing can be off the table if the U.S. chooses to move forward with these punishing tariffs.”
Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe expressed concerns about the potential consequences of a tit-for-tat trade war, warning it could increase costs for consumers on both sides of the border. However, Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Andrew Furey supported leveraging Canada’s energy exports as a bargaining chip, calling it “the queen in this game of chess.”
To address U.S. concerns about drug smuggling and border security—key issues in Trump’s platform—Ottawa announced a $1.3 billion initiative to strengthen border infrastructure. Measures include deploying drones, increasing surveillance, adding K-9 units, and acquiring advanced scanning technology.
Public Safety Minister David McGuinty said these steps aim to meet U.S. demands while protecting Canada’s sovereignty.
The premiers and Trudeau agreed to continue lobbying U.S. lawmakers and businesses to emphasize the mutual economic harm of Trump’s proposed tariffs. However, Alberta remains an outlier in the national effort, with Smith’s opposition highlighting divisions within Canada’s leadership.
As Ford noted, “The message we send matters. We must show the world that Canada stands united.”