Carney, premiers discuss interprovincial trade today before expected Sunday election call
Nunavut premier points to 'opportunities' in the North for Canada to diversify
Prime Minister Mark Carney is hosting a meeting with Canada's premiers at the Canadian War Museum in Ottawa on Friday, with interprovincial trade on the agenda.
The Prime Minister's Office and the office of Ontario Premier Doug Ford confirmed the details of the meeting.
The gathering comes two days before a federal election is likely to be called.
U.S. President Donald Trump's trade war escalated last week as the country imposed 25 per cent tariffs on all steel and aluminum imports entering the country, prompting Canada to effectively double its retaliatory tariffs on U.S. goods.
Trump has also repeatedly suggested that Canada should become the 51st state.
Audrey Champoux, Carney's lead press secretary, says the prime minister has been clear that top priorities for his government include defending Canadians in the face of unjustified trade actions by the U.S., supporting workers and strengthening the economy.
"He committed during his leadership campaign that he would work with the premiers to do so and would convene a first ministers' meeting at the earliest opportunity, which has now been scheduled for this coming Friday," Champoux said in a statement.
"This meeting will be a chance for all premiers and Prime Minister Carney to discuss the work ahead, including how they will work collaboratively to create one Canadian economy, instead of 13."
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith will be attending virtually, while Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Andrew Furey will be in Japan for a trade mission.
Premiers attending in person include Nunavut Premier P.J. Akeeagok, Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew, New Brunswick Premier Susan Holt, P.E.I. Premier Rob Lantz, Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston, Quebec Premier François Legault and Ford.
Last week, Ford met with Carney for breakfast at Wally's Grill in Etobicoke, Ont., where they discussed ongoing trade issues with the Trump administration.
But when a reporter asked Ford earlier this week whether he had a better relationship with Carney or Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, Ford said he didn't "know either one of them to be frank" and that he would "work with anyone."
"I don't represent the federal government, but what I'm trying to do is continue carrying on these conversations," Ford said. "The last thing we want to do is break away from the table and it starts going back and forth again. But yeah, there's going to be challenges no doubt."
Ford reiterated on Friday that he would work with anyone as long as it's in Ontario's best interest.
Legault wants 'global negotiation' of trade with U.S.
Shortly
after arriving for the meeting, Legault told reporters that he wants
the next prime minister to ask Trump for a "global" negotiation of
a trade agreement rather than one that is piecemeal.
"Right
now, Mr. Trump doesn't respect the agreement between Canada, the
U.S. and Mexico, especially on steel and aluminum. So it's important we
renegotiate all the agreement," Legault said.
He noted that premiers and the prime minister need to be "careful about actual counter-tariffs and eventual counter-tariffs" to maximize the negative impact on U.S. businesses but minimize the impact on Canadian ones.
The Quebec premier said his province would be "open" to pipeline projects, due to Trump's threats, but there needs to be social acceptability.
Yukon Premier Ranj Pillai acknowledged that with increased focus on the North and the Arctic, it's important to hear the plans of all political parties for the region, especially in light of the rhetoric south of the border.
Pillai said he wants to make sure the prime minister is aware that it is a "special moment in time for us" and that his visit to Iqaluit, the first domestic trip of his leadership of Canada, was "important and set a tone."
"Other people are focusing on the North and we sure need to do the same," Pillai said. "In the first week, personally, I'm very impressed with what I've seen … so that's much appreciated."
Akeeagok echoed Pillai, saying it was great to see Carney underline "how important the North is and how much incredible of an opportunity we have to provide the country with an opportunity to diversify."
With files from CBC's Lisa Mayor, Meagan Fitzpatrick, Kate McKenna, Raffy Boudjikanian and Marina von Stackelberg
Ottawa, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia strike deal on Chignecto funding
N.S. minister says he’s putting Canada first with $650-million cost-sharing agreement
The federal, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia governments have reached a deal on a major infrastructure project to protect the low-lying Chignecto Isthmus from the effects of climate change.
Ottawa and the two provinces will spend $650 million over the next 10 years to reinforce centuries-old dikes to reduce the risk of flooding in the vital land link between New Brunswick and Nova Scotia.
"My conversations with the premiers were, 'Let's lock in this contribution, let's make sure that the project can begin … and we'll continue to work together as a multi-year project evolves," said federal Intergovernmental Affairs Minister Dominic LeBlanc.
He said the massive price tag was worthwhile given the potentially catastrophic environmental consequences of doing nothing.
Dominic LeBlanc says he’s had ‘cordial’ conversations with N.S Premier over Chignecto deal "There's a series of rather concerning risks that can be mitigated the faster we go, and I was very happy that the three governments came together to lock in and begin the project."
The isthmus is the only path for national railway, highway, and power and communication lines that connect Nova Scotia to the rest of Canada.
The two provinces had opposed the federal government's proposed funding formula for the project, which would see Ottawa pay 50 per cent of the cost and the provinces 25 per cent each.
"We agreed to this to avoid delays in the important work needed on the isthmus," Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston wrote in a letter to federal party leaders Thursday, laying out the province's issues ahead of an expected election campaign.
Nova Scotia Public Works Minister Fred Tilley said in a joint news release that the province was getting on board with the plan because of the threat of U.S. tariffs and the need to reinforce interprovincial commerce.
"Protecting Nova Scotia's main connection to the rest of Canada has never been more important as we take action to increase trade between provinces," Tilley said.
Nova
Scotia Public Works Minister Fred Tilley says protecting the province's
main connection to the rest of Canada has never been more important. (Tom Ayers/CBC)
"That's why we are taking a Team Canada approach. We're putting the interests of our country first and showing leadership as we unlock our potential."
Ottawa estimates $100 million of goods and services pass through the isthmus corridor daily.
Nova Scotia MLA Elizabeth Smith-McCrossin, whose Cumberland North riding includes her province's part of the isthmus, welcomed the news.
"We need to start the work and get it done before we have a catastrophic event," she said.
On the other side of the border, Tantramar Green MLA Megan Mitton said her constituents would likely feel "some hope and a bit of relief" over the news.
The announcement comes just days before an expected federal election call by new Liberal Prime Minister Mark Carney.
"The key thing is all federal party leaders need to commit to providing this funding if they win the next election," Mitton said.
In the same news release, New Brunswick Premier Susan Holt welcomed the agreement but called the dike project "only the first step in implementing a long-term climate mitigation solution for the Chignecto Isthmus."
The two provincial governments have been negotiating with Ottawa for years about upgrading the aging dike system, which dates back to the arrival of Acadian settlers in 1671.
Experts have warned that sea-level rise and increasingly extreme weather could lead to flooding that overwhelms the existing 35 kilometres of dikes, severing Nova Scotia's links to the rest of Canada.
Premier Susan Holt welcomed the agreement but says it's just one step in the right direction. (Ed Hunter/CBC)
The two provinces had argued that Ottawa should pay the full cost of the project because interprovincial links fall under the federal government's constitutional responsibilities.
They reluctantly agreed in 2023 to apply for the 50-per-cent federal funding under Ottawa's Disaster Mitigation and Adaptation Fund — while continuing to argue Ottawa should pay the full amount.
Last fall, Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston wouldn't commit to accepting the funding, saying the 2023 application was "a placeholder" and Ottawa should "do what's right."
Nova Scotia launched a reference case in 2023 before the province's Court of Appeal, asking justices to weigh in with a non-binding opinion on that issue.
Earlier this month, federal lawyers asked the court to exercise its ability to not answer the question, arguing that Nova Scotia was seeking a legal opinion on what was essentially a political disagreement.
Nova
Scotia Premier Tim Houston says that despite the agreement, his
government would continue with a court case to determine if Ottawa
should be responsible for paying for the isthmus. (CBC)
If the court rejects that request, the province's case can go ahead.
The Appeal Court said in an order issued Thursday that it would rule on that at a later date, after hearing main arguments in the case in a two-day hearing May 20 and 21.
Houston said in his letter that despite the funding agreement, his government would continue with the reference case to determine if "paying for the isthmus is a federal responsibility."
Lawyers for Nova Scotia said in court they're not asking the court to rule on who should pay but to provide clarity on who has legal authority to protect the CN railway, Trans-Canada Highway, electric transmission lines and fibre-optic cables on the isthmus.
The Société de l'Acadie du Nouveau-Brunswick has proposed the creation of a national park in the isthmus because of its historical significance to Indigenous people and Acadians.
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With files from Taryn Grant and Michael Gorman
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