Federal government says 'not to confuse' premiers' differing opinions on Trump tariff retaliation, 'confident' in Canada's response

As it continues to tout a ‘Team Canada’ approach, the federal government is downplaying differing opinions from premiers on how Canada should respond to a potential 25 per cent tariff from U.S. president-elect Donald Trump.

“One should be careful not to confuse the odd public comment, with what is a clear desire to work together with the Government of Canada,” Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc told reporters on Friday in Saint John, N.B. “This is an important moment for the whole country, and I don't think Canadians would be very forgiving if their politicians weren't trying to work on the national interest together.”

LeBlanc’s remarks come one day after some provinces pushed back against Ontario Premier Doug Ford’s threat to cut off his province’s energy supply to the U.S. if Trump follows through on his tariff warning. Trump has said he will impose tariffs on Canada and Mexico unless both countries address the flow of illegal migrants and illegal drugs at the border.

On Wednesday, following a premiers’ meeting with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Ford said Ontario “will go to the extent of cutting off their energy, going down to Michigan, going down to New York state and over to Wisconsin” to retaliate.

According to Ford, Ontario sends energy – mostly electricity – to power 1.5 million homes in Michigan, New York and Minnesota.

But the following day, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith, Quebec Premier Francois Legault and Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Andrew Furey pushed back against cutting off energy to the U.S. as a retaliatory measure.

"Let me be clear, from the Alberta perspective, under no circumstances will Alberta agree to cut off oil and gas exports," Smith told reporters on Thursday.

Meanwhile, in a separate press conference, Legault said “I won't threaten Donald not to send electricity," while Furey said his province has “no interest in stopping the flow of oil and gas."

Asked about the public disagreement on Friday, Ford stood by his position and said he “was speaking very clearly for Ontario, and I still speak for Ontario. I don’t speak for the rest of the country.”

Ford also said he spoke to Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer and New York Governor Kathy Hochul on Thursday, saying “they fully understood where I was coming from.”

“My comment to the two governors yesterday, we want to sell you more energy. We want to make sure that we sign this deal,” Ford said.

And when it comes to avoiding Trump’s tariffs, Ford said all premiers are united in their belief that securing the Canada-U.S. border and boosting defence spending are the two ways to “make a deal with the U.S.”

“It was very clear that all premiers believe we should hit our two per cent when it comes to NATO. So, we're all in agreement,” Ford said Friday. “Every one of us are in agreement that we have to tighten up the borders.”

The federal government is working on a border plan, which is expected to be unveiled in the coming days.

Freeland 'confident' Canadian response to tariffs would be 'effective'

Speaking to reporters on Friday, Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland, who is leading the cabinet committee on Canada-U.S. relations, said she is “confident” that Canada’s response to potential tariffs would be “effective.”

“The Prime Minister has been clear that in the event that the United States were to impose unjustified tariffs on Canada, of course we would respond,” Freeland said, adding “the Canadian response would necessarily be robust.”

In her argument, Freeland pointed to Canada’s previous experience with tariffs during Trump’s first term in office, which she said, “led to a great outcome.”

In 2018, Trump triggered a nearly yearlong trade war imposing a 25 per cent tariff on Canadian steel products and 10 per cent on Canadian aluminum. In response, Canada unveiled a 25 per cent counter tariff on a long list of American steel and aluminum products, along with a 10 per cent surtax on miscellaneous U.S. goods including coffee, prepared meals and maple syrup. Those retaliatory tariffs were eventually lifted in 2019 after Canada, the U.S. and Mexico reached a deal.

The federal government says it is currently working on a list of potential retaliatory measures.

Freeland – who just spoke with Ford, Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe and British Columbia Premier David Eby – also said provinces “are an essential part of what needs to be a team Canada effort.”

“For a Canadian response to be strong and effective, Canada needs to be united, and that's why we need to have good ongoing conversations with the premiers of provinces and territories,” Freeland said. “The ultimate response we come up with needs to be one that all of our country stands behind.”