FORD HOSTING PREMIERS TONIGHT AT HIS PORT SYDNEY COTTAGE TO TALK TRADE, TARIFFS, TRUMP
Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com
HUNTSVILLE — Canada’s premiers arrived in Muskoka today united and hungry for peace with Donald Trump.
And tonight on the menu at Doug Ford’s Port Sydney cottage BBQ with first ministers — and possibly the prime minister — are tough talks on trade and tariffs by the end of July.
Ontario’s premier said he was looking forward to a little R&R Monday — but no “water sports” — before sitting down tomorrow and Wednesday to discuss strategies to combat the “unprecedented” taxes imposed by the U.S. president.
Ford dubbed Ontario an “economic powerhouse.”
Prime Minister Mark Carney arrives tomorrow for the day to join in on important talks, which also include federal inter-provincial trade barriers, First Nations co-operation and the overall economy affecting all Canadians.
All the key players drove up from Toronto to Deerhurst Resort, arriving just before noon, anxious to have their say to scrumming reporters when entering the Muskoka hotel where a G8 was held in 2010.
Ford said “I’m feeling, fantastic. Welcome to Huntsville, it’s a great town and everyone in Ontario pulling together.”
He began emphasizing his province’s purchasing power south of the border noting the Americans buy and import “way more” from Ontario than most other large countries combined.
This with just 10 days before an Aug. 1 deadline for a deal with Trump to put off further trade sanctions.
All agree some kind of tariffs are inevitable.
Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe, Alberta Premier Danielle Clark and Quebec’s François Legault shared the Canada stage while making clear their own provinces’ positions.
Moe wants “quite a bit more expansive agreement with a U.S. partnership being extended to all provinces.
“These are all steps in the right direction. We need free and open trade between all our provinces and on our continent with the U.S. and Mexico. And I would say we have always been a supporter of the freest and open trade that we can have globally.”
He said Saskatchewan “exports to 160 countries each year.”
Moe added “recent increases in steel and aluminum coming from various countries are of great concern for us. As all too often retaliatory measures from China impact Saskatchewan’s prairie agriculture.“What I hope we work toward is as low a tariff, or as free and fair a trade environment as possible. Not only with the U.S., but also Mexico. It’s beneficial for Canada and for North America. You see us aligning now on other issues like border security and or military investment….
“We really need to pay attention to that as North Americans. Other people in the world are paying attention to our environment not always with our best interests.”
Moe called for a unity in the wake of a “very erratic stance” by Trump.
Smith’s first message was in response to a question about an LNG (liquefied natural gas) project in Quebec with a Norwegian company and whether she’s had talks with the premier.
“I have told François Legault every time I see him that he should develop existential natural gas resources. I believe Quebec has about a 200-year supply and not only would they be able to wean themselves off their reliance on natural gas, but they’d be able to export to our European neighbours and partners. So I’m supporting them and if we can do anything we can assist with technical expertise or helping them develop their oil framework I’m ready to help for Quebec natural gas. Not Alberta.”
She told us “Albertans know I’ve been trying to work on a northwest-B.C. coast bitumen pipeline and see if we can get that on the national projects list. That’s what I will be asking the prime minister about.
“But most importantly we’re not going to get the production of oil and gas if we have division chasm and we have a net zero power rights.”
She said “no” when if she was going to have anymore private talks with Trump.
Legault said he’s “happy to be here for three days. To be here with the premiers of the provinces and territories.
“I think the main subject will be about negotiations between Canada and U.S.
“I will repeat that there is no question that for us in Quebec negotiating the supply management for dairy and other products is the most important.
“Also it’s important to protect our culture exemption like French. I think it’s also important and I want to talk to Mr. Carney tomorrow about a duration of three or five if we have an agreement on Aug. 1. Because right now our economy in all of Canada is suffering because of the uncertainty.”
He also mentioned support for Bombardier and shipyards in Quebec “that are ready to create 10-, 20-, 30,000 new jobs. It’s important that the money being spent by the federal government be spent to build manufacturing business in Canada. Not in the U.S. or anywhere else.”
He said it’s “too soon” to say if tariffs are inevitable.
“We will see what we can get until Aug. 1. Of course, the ideal situation is to have no tariffs…. But if we are to have an economy we need companies to know what’s happening six and 12 months ahead.”
Asked by reporters if he believes Trump can be trusted, Legault said: “I think he has a lot of problems himself to solve with China, Europe and other countries with Mexico.
“So I hope that Mr. Carney will be able to have deal a long-term deal with Mr. Trump.”
Ford meanwhile was looking forward to welcoming fellow leaders to his cottage tonight in Port Sydney where national interests will intersperse with Muskoka’s natural Canadian setting.
The meetings resume officially tomorrow with Carney and Wednesday with just the premiers, territorial and First Nations leaders.
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