Nunavut ‘stands united with Canada’ as Trump imposes tariffs
Canada-U.S. trade war will increase cost of living for Nunavummiut already struggling, Akeeagok says; Quebec can defend itself in trade war, come out stronger, Legault says
Canada’s territorial and provincial premiers, including Nunavut’s P.J. Akeeagok, left, and Quebec’s François Legault say Canada didn’t want a trade war with the United States but is prepared to respond to U.S. President Donald Trump’s imposition of tariffs on Canadian products by putting tariffs on American products coming into Canada. (File photos by Jeff Pelletier)
Nunavummiut will feel the pain resulting from a Canada-U.S. trade war, but Premier P.J. Akeeagok called on the territory to stand “with team Canada” and its “strong and decisive response” to tariffs imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump Saturday.
“Nunavummiut are no strangers to adversity,” Akeeagok wrote in a message he posted on X Saturday night, after Trump officially announced tariffs will take effect Tuesday, and after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau unveiled Canada’s plan to retaliate.
Trump made good on a threat he had made for months to bring a 25 per cent tariff on almost all Canadian products coming into his country, officially because he wants to see Canada crack down on the amount of fentanyl and illegal immigrants coming into the U.S.
Trudeau announced Canada will retaliate by putting tariffs on American products coming into Canada. That has the potential to increase the prices Canadians pay for the things they buy, including groceries, clothing and home furnishings.
“We did not want this, but Canada is prepared,” Trudeau wrote in an X post Saturday night, after Trump announced the American tariffs and before talking to reporters on Parliament Hill Saturday night.
Trudeau said Canadians are “a little perplexed” by Trump’s decision to “target” Canada instead of focusing on “other challenging parts of the world.”
While Trump is concerned about the number of migrants entering the U.S. illegally, and the amount of fentanyl crossing the border, Trudeau said less than one per cent of each enters the U.S. through Canada.
Trudeau also said Canada has recently added $1.3 billion in spending to strengthen its borders in response to Trump’s concerns.
“We have the most successful partnership the world has ever seen,” Trudeau said in a press conference, a recording of which he posted on X.
Trudeau also said he spoke to provincial and territorial premiers on Saturday afternoon to brief them on the “strong response package” Canada would implement.
“This is a time for Canadians to pull together,” Trudeau said, a sentiment Akeeagok later echoed.
Akeeagok said the tariffs will put pressure on Nunavut families already struggling to pay the rent and feed their children.
“Nunavummiut are faced with the highest costs of living in Canada, as almost all our goods are flown in from southern jurisdictions.” Tariffs could increase the cost of building homes and negatively affect Nunavut’s ability to address its housing crisis.
But, faced with a trade war with Canada’s largest trading partner, Akeeagok called on Canadians to unite by using their buying power to support Canadian products, workers and businesses.
He also repeated his call to invest in Canada’s Arctic, which he called a “region of opportunity.”
During this “time of uncertainty,” Akeeagok said, “the Arctic can unlock new economic opportunities for our country.”
Quebec Premier François Legault said Canada’s first choice was to avoid a trade war with its main trading partner.
“But Mr. Trump decided to attack us. We have to stand up. We must fight to protect our economy and our jobs,” Legault wrote in French on X Saturday night.
Legault spelled out some of the Quebec government’s response, including providing assistance to businesses affected by the new tariffs, possibly penalizing American companies that bid on provincial government contracts, and removing American alcohol from the shelves of provincially owned liquor stores.
“We did not want this trade war, but we are capable of defending ourselves and we are capable of overcoming this crisis and coming out even stronger,” Legault said.
Will Arctic Co-op and Northern stores now label all items as Canadian produced?
They will raise their prices by 25% and blame the tariffs.
News flash trump doesn’t care about Nunavut and chances are he’s never ever heard of Nunavut. We’re all in for tough times ahead, especially canadas rural poor.
4 years of ”CRAZY ” comming up
As opposed to the numbing past 10 years in Canada?
This will not be resolved until we have a new government. If you can’t see that by now, you’ll see it soon enough (sooner, hopefully, than later).
This will not be resolved when Canada gets a new government.
This will not get resolved when Nunavut gets a new government.
This will not get resolved when the USA gets a new government.
This will only get resolved when Canada establishes an independent economy and acquires the strength to enforce it.
There is nothng to resolve. Canada has it’s head in the sand.
Funny, our current government has done nothing to support our military, our NATO commitments, or the diversification of our energy economy (energy east, the sale of our LNG). But yea, they aren’t the problem.
What’s happening right now is personal, if you can’t see that you haven’t paid enough attention.
Also, there is no such thing as an ‘independent economy’, everything is integrated today. In the long run that is not going to change, despite these manic retreats into protectionism that come along now and then.
Riiight. Like the blue Liberals are going to do anything different after 200 years of back and forth.
Let’s get this election over so we can stop playing make believe about Poilievre and his party.
You are really do not following politics, just lessons what Poilievre said and want to do and you will realize that we also have ours own Canadian TRUMP and it also been said on TV by politic analysts ,having him as prime minister will be a catastrophe for Canada and I also don’t see him and Trump face to face.
I think you misunderstood my comment because we seem to agree about Poilievre being bad for Canada.
I would like to know where did you get then grocery, furniture, and clothing will be more expensive in Canada or even in Nunavut, GN still have no clue what going on like usual.
This is a little wake-up call with this current Territorial Government! Don’t pull-out JOB’s that Sustains Socio-Economic Development to remote Municipalities! Prime example is the present Department of Family Services (administration), which is certainly under the influence of the Deputy Minister and its little puppets Executives Directors. They don’t seem to have any clue what’s right or wrong conclusions to direct right PATH’s! Notice this trend???
Still amazes me that there are still Inuit that support the right wing parties, Coms, Alliance coalition.
Bottom line for these groups are fear mongering, misinformation and making as much money for their rich friends.
Some actually look up to Trump, it’s incredible how they see things, smoke and mirrors.
You’re right Tom, especially when Trudeau and Biden have been such blessings for our countries, how dare they
Get rid of the American made beer and wine at the NULC! It’s not good anyway lol
The need to be in a state of war constantly, to keep the $$$ flowing to a few very massive very powerful companies has everything to do with the latest round of tariffs, and sanctions. You won’t hear of that from the establishment news corporations or from their journalists and reporters. A research into alternative sources, MOATS with George Galloway, a recent British MP would be fine.
If your groceries get more expensive after the 30 days wait period for Canada to apply retaliatory tariffs on US goods and food.
Then remember the more Nunavut’s Premier goes rah rah, Nunavut stands with the Liberal’s slogan “with Team Canada” for more Canadian retaliatory tariffs on the US.
It’s these Canada’s own retaliatory tariffs what will make your food and other items more expensive.
The American tariffs will not make your food more expensive but the Canadian Government’s retaliatory tariffs will.
If really want to know what President Trump and Canadians want cleaned up across Canada, then read Sam Copper’s book called Wilful Blindness.
Justin just gave Donald his lunch money in exchange for not getting beaten up.
What will Justin have to give when they meet tomorrow in the playground?
Time for Canada and the other nations to turn this into a bull-fight. Everyone has to keep distracting the Donald. Being first will take courage, and, as in any bull-fight, there is a real chance of getting gored.
The only alternative is to wait for the USA to disolve into civil war. Having done that once, they are not inclined to do it again.
But as an old friend used to say, “In the USA we have 3 boxes, to be used in the following order: the soap box, the ballot box, and the ammo box.”
Justin played Trump like a fiddle when he told him Monday Canada would commit to improving border security, which Canada already committed to in December. Justin used something Canada is already doing to get Trump to back down, which Trump did because Orange Mussolini is a moron who burned through his inheritance going bankrupt 6 times and is now in debt to Russia.
Well, a heck of a lot of Canadians are happy President Trump is demanding Canada take action on Canada’s ignored border, organized crime, child/human trafficking, money laundering.
As said in the executive order, Canada has failed to take action, and why the tariffs.
Trump is looking out for Americans.
However, go to any Canadian city, small town or northern villages and its tent cities, drugs, deaths.
Canada helps… by putting everywhere shops called safe drug supply.
It wasn’t long ago Nunavut was calling for a safe drinking house.
B.C. government is handing out to school kids… safer snorting kits.
Does it seem clear Canada wants drug and alcohol addiction and hard crime?
There are 4,000 organized groups in Canada, that’s with membership and leadership.
Money launderers launder hockey bags of cash daily across Canada.
Canada’s reputation is that of a global criminal haven and a major drug manufacturer with worldwide shipping.
The $1.3 billion announced for the border is just that an announcement to be spent over 6 years. The release of the funds has not been approved, because parliament is still shut down.
The US/Canada joint border operation, which Trudeau agreed. Is to have US boots in Canada to help with law enforcement. The US will see firsthand if any action is really being taken. No action, then in slams the 25% or more tariffs within 30 days.
If Nunavut cheers again for retaliation, tariffs on food from US. Question why they desire higher food prices across Nunavut and not pressing Lib/NDP to just take action cleaning up Canada’s big time problems.
I personally like Donald Trump and think he is a great American president.
I also believe Nunavut is one of the last North American frontiers and deserves protection economically and otherwise.
Come to the North and say that to our faces and see how fast it gets punched. Remember kids, when you see someone punch a nazi, no you didn’t. Donald “34-felony-convictions-r*pist” is the worst US president of all time on all fronts and anyone in Canada who supports him and his ilk can leave.