Economic uncertainty takes centre stage at summit of Great Lakes premiers, governors

Quebec Premier Francois Legault has been hosting Premier Doug Ford as well as the governors of N.Y., Mich., Wisc., and Penn.

Economic uncertainty caused by the Trump administration was the focus of a three-day summit of Great Lakes governors and premiers in Quebec City.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford took aim at U.S. President Donald Trump during Monday’s closing news conference, saying the president should be more concerned about China than Canada.

Pennsylvania Democratic Governor Josh Shapiro said he respects Canadians and Canada’s sovereignty, while Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers, also a Democrat, said the uncertainty in Washington, D.C., is a problem.

Quebec Premier François Legault said he told his counterparts that companies in the province want to get more heavily involved in sectors like defence, citing the Davie shipyard and Bombardier as examples.

The gathering included the governors of New York, Michigan, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania, as well as delegation leaders from Ohio, Illinois, and Minnesota.

This biennial meeting is the group’s first since Trump returned to the White House in January.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 6, 2025.