The “state of the federal government” following the announcement that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau would resign means Canada’s premiers are taking the lead in fighting US President-elect Donald Trump’s tariff threats, the prime minister said. British Columbia Minister David Eby.
Eby said Tuesday that he and other prime ministers plan to go to Washington, where Trump will be inaugurated this month, to meet with U.S. decision-makers and try to convince the president-elect to abandon his tariff plan.
Eby’s comments in Vancouver come the same day Trump threatened to use economic force to make Canada the 51st state and continued to promise substantial tariffs on Canada and Mexico in his first news conference since certifying his election victory. .
Eby said provincial and territorial leaders are scheduled to meet Wednesday to discuss how they can coordinate, in light of this week’s announcement that Trudeau will resign from office once a new Liberal leader is elected.
“Given the current state of the federal government, leadership on this issue comes from premiers across Canada, so we will continue to do that work,” he said.
Eby said the premiers will argue that the proposed tariffs “will mean a significant price increase for Americans” on costs such as housing and electricity.
No date has been set for the trade mission.
Trump has previously said he would impose a 25 percent tariff on imports from the United States’ closest neighbors unless they stop the flow of illegal drugs and migrants across the border.
Eby said the tariffs are “totally unjustified” and that the problems at the border can be addressed without such tariffs.
“It makes no sense to punish both Americans and Canadians for addressing that issue. We can do it together,” Eby said.
The House of Commons in Ottawa is prorogued until March 24 and many hope there will be a new Liberal leader before then.
Members of British Columbia’s legislature are not expected to return to the chamber until mid-February.
Eby said there is “no question” the legislature would be convened immediately if it became necessary to coordinate with Ottawa on a response to the tariffs.
“So if a retaliatory measure, for example, required provincial legislation, or if there was a coordinated border initiative that required provincial legislation, we wouldn’t hesitate,” he said.
“No proposals like that have been made yet. We will be holding talks this Wednesday with premiers from across Canada to make sure we are coordinating. And I hope that even despite the prime minister’s resignation, the federal government will be able to engage meaningfully.” with us in the future.
– With files from Kelly Geraldine Malone in Washington.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 7, 2025.
