B.C. Premier David Eby says leadership in responding to the incoming U.S. administration’s tariffs threat has fallen to Canada’s premiers given the current “state of the federal government” following Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s resignation announcement.
Eby made the remarks during a press conference on Jan. 7, where he announced premiers would meet the following day to plan a response to Trump’s tariffs, including a trade mission to Washington, D.C.
“The leadership will continue to need to come from the provincial governments and territorial governments across Canada. We are prepared to do that, and we will do that,” Eby said.
Trudeau announced on Jan. 6 he would be resigning as prime minister once the Liberal Party has elected a new leader. Trudeau also asked for prorogation of Parliament, a request that Gov. Gen. Mary Simon granted, which shields the government from being toppled by a non-confidence vote from opposition parties and provides a window for the Liberal Party to run a leadership race.
Eby noted the federal government has “made moves” in attempting to avert the tariffs, and that premiers expect Ottawa to continue that work.
“We need the federal government because it is a federal responsibility to show strong leadership on addressing border issues,” he said.
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Eby’s Jan. 7 remarks came the same day U.S. President-elect Donald Trump said he would consider using “economic force” to merge Canada with the United States. Trump also doubled down on his promise to impose tariffs on Canada and Mexico when he takes office on Jan. 20. Trump has previously threatened 25 percent tariffs on all imports coming from the two countries unless they address the flow of illegal immigration and drugs at their borders.
Eby said the premiers will make the case that tariffs would hurt citizens on both sides of the border. “We can address the issues at the border without the tariffs,” he said. “It makes no sense to punish both Americans and Canadians to address that issue. We can do it together.”
Eby did not specify when the trade mission to Washington would occur.
Canada’s premiers have taken different approaches to avoid Trump’s tariffs. Alberta Premier Danielle Smith and Ontario Premier Doug Ford have launched their own border security plans and spoken with U.S. media outlets to promote strong trade ties, while B.C.’s Eby and New Brunswick’s Susan Holt have not ruled out retaliatory tariffs.
The Prince Edward Island government has created a special cabinet committee to focus on U.S. relations and will send a “Team PEI delegation” to the United States this year. The Manitoba government, for its part, has assigned more agents to patrol the border and opened a trade office in Washington.
Federal Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Jonathan Wilkinson is set to travel to Washington next week for trade talks with partners and legislators.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will meet with the premiers next week to discuss the looming tariff threat, just days before Trump’s inauguration.
The Canadian Press and Noé Chartier contributed to this report.
