Ford, Holt agree with Carney -- almost nothing is ‘normal’ with U.S. right now

The premiers were asked Wednesday to respond to Carney’s comments.

OTTAWA — Ontario Premier Doug Ford and New Brunswick Premier Susan Holt both said Wednesday they agree with Prime Minister Mark Carney’s suggestion that “almost nothing is normal” right now with the United States.

“I agree with him. I think the whole world is watching that, including Americans,” Ford told a news conference in Ottawa.

“It’s unfortunate President (Donald) Trump has taken this avenue that he’s going down, but remember -- a tariff on Canada is a tax on Americans. Americans know it, they’re feeling it.”

Holt said she agrees “nothing is the same” with the United States and New Brunswickers don’t recognize their longtime neighbours and trading partners.

“We see it in New Brunswick right now with ICE agents on the border of New Brunswick and Maine,” she said. “It makes all of us very, very uncomfortable, and there’s nothing that we recognize in our neighbours right now with the leadership that they have.”

Bloc Quebecois Leader Yves-Francois Blanchet asked Carney Tuesday in the House of Commons if he could guarantee that “normal, cordial negotiations are happening with Washington” as North America’s free-trade pact comes up for renewal.

Carney replied that Washington has changed and “almost nothing is normal in the United States at the moment.”

Speaking with reporters in Ottawa, Holt and Ford sought to highlight Canadian resilience in the face of Trump’s tariff war.

They pointed to a sharp increase in Ontario exports shipping through Port Saint John, which have more than doubled in the year since Trump returned to office.

Premiers are huddled for two days of meetings in the nation’s capital. They’re looking to present a united “Team Canada” front as trade tensions with the United States rise ahead of trade negotiations, and as Trump threatens to impose more tariffs.

But ongoing interprovincial tensions are hanging over the meetings.

Key among them is B.C.’s frustration with Ottawa’s endorsement of a possible pipeline to the West Coast.

B.C. Premier David Eby and Alberta Premier Danielle Smith met with Carney today. All the premiers will meet with Carney on Thursday.

Coming out of that meeting, Smith told reporters asking about the prospect of a new pipeline that she saw signs of “progress” and the talks went very well.

Eby brushed by reporters and said he would speak to them later.

Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew has also protested Ford’s plans to pull Crown Royal whisky from government-run liquor store shelves. The product is made in Gimli, Man.

Ford said he understands Kinew is “doing what any other premier would do, try to protect his jobs,” while Ontario is doing the same.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 27, 2026.

Kyle Duggan, The Canadian Press