Premiers’ trip to Washington, D.C. culminates in White House visit
Nunavut’s Akeeagok, Quebec’s Legault part of entourage whose agenda added an unplanned White House visit
Provincial and territorial premiers, including Nunavut’s P.J. Akeeagok, top left, share a laugh with U.S. Rep. Adrian Smith, left, the chairperson of the Ways and Means Trade Subcommittee, during discussions on trade and tariffs on Wednesday in Washington, D.C. (Photo courtesy of Doug Ford/X)
Canada’s premiers started their day in Washington, D.C., Wednesday planning to make the case against Donald Trump’s tariff threats to various U.S. politicians, but ended it with an invitation to the White House.
“This is the first time 13 premiers have shown up to Washington,” Ontario Premier Doug Ford said, speaking to reporters. “Make no mistake, the president knows we are here. We just want to move forward.”
Ford made the remarks during an early morning press conference, covered on CPAC, that included the heads of government from all Canada’s territories and provinces.
The premiers were in the U.S. capital to meet with government officials and make Canada’s case that the country should be spared from Trump’s repeated tariff threats.
Nunavut Premier P.J. Akeeagok, right, speaks with U.S. Sen. Kevin Cramer on Tuesday. All 13 of Canada’s premiers are in the U.S. capital making the pitch against President Donald Trump’s proposed tariffs. (Photo courtesy of the Council of the Federation)
“Success looks like zero tariffs,” Ford said when asked what it would take for the Washington trip to be a success.
“We’re their number one customer, and I’m not too sure if they fully understand the impact [of tariffs] on both countries, both sides of the border.”
By early afternoon, all other engagements were cancelled to make way for a meeting between the premiers and “senior advisers to the President” at the White House, said Paola St-Georges, a spokesperson for the Council of the Federation, the name for the group of Canada’s premiers.
Since Trump’s election in November, the president has threatened to impose a 25 per cent tariff on all Canadian goods coming into his country. He tied the tariff to his desire to have Canada do more to prevent fentanyl and illegal immigrants from entering the United States from Canada.
On Feb. 1, Trump announced those tariffs would take effect Feb. 4, then postponed them until March 4 after he and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau had a phone call Feb. 3. Trudeau agreed to bolster Canada’s security at the Canada-U.S. border and to appoint fentanyl czar Kevin Brosseau.
Then earlier this week, Trump announced 25 per cent tariffs would be placed on all imported steel and aluminum, including from Canada, as of March 12.
On Wednesday, Ford noted the premiers had differing political perspectives as well as their own interests in avoiding tariffs on their exports to the United States. For example, Ontario wants to protect its steel industry, Quebec its dairy farmers, and Alberta its oil and gas exports.
“But do you know what everyone agrees on — [it] is protecting Canada, as a whole.”
On Tuesday, the day before the Washington meeting, Nunavut Premier P.J. Akeeagok said the trip presented a chance for premiers to underline the value of Canada-U.S. trade.
“It’s one opportunity for us to really talk about the importance of this partnership … the impact [tariffs] will have on all sides,” Akeeagok said in an interview Tuesday.
Speaking to reporters before going into Wednesday’s meetings, Ford was asked about the possibility of Canada imposing retaliatory tariffs, something Trudeau has vowed he would do if Trump makes good on his tariff theat.
“This changes from day to day to day, so let’s see what happens. We have a strong group of premiers, and we’ll sit down, we’ll be discussing this. Right now, I’m not going to speculate,” he said, noting Trump had originally intended to impose 25 per cent tariffs on all exports “five or six days ago.”
“To be very frank, the people I’ve met, no matter if it’s business or on the political side – they all get it. We have to make sure that gets communicated up to President Trump,” Ford said.
For once’s 😀 great job PJ
Tell the Americans/Trump that we have a very big water faucet in Nunavut that leads to the US, and we are going to turn it off 😀
Also, tell them that we’re going to start controlling the weather again if they are going impose more tariffs, hahahaha.
Where do you find Nunavut’s premier? Find a camera and he will be there. We do not trade with the Yanks and he is in the US to protest. Thankfully we will get rid of this facebooker in October.
This turned out a little embarrassing. Much to do about nothing. They met what, the deputy chief of staff? That’s all the White House offered 13 premiers? Shows how much respect they command. Then he immediately tweets out that the tariff threat is as real as ever and the meeting was essentially meaningless.
I don’t understand why every news article only cites Ford? Out of the 13, he wasn’t the only one who talked. Why note cite Dave eby or Legault to show everything that is being said? There was a huge difference between what Eby said the approach was to what Ford said. He just makes it seem like it’s the US or Canada dies or something. Eby sounds rational.