Prime Minister Mark Carney has kicked off a meeting with Canada’s premiers hosted in cottage country by Ontario Premier Doug Ford, offering a briefing on talks with United States President Donald Trump and how local leaders can help.
The meeting began just after 10 a.m. on Tuesday at Deerhurst Resort and is expected to run for roughly two hours, before Carney departs and the premiers take part in their own meetings without him.
“We will have a discussion on the current state of negotiations with the United States,” Carney said at the opening of the meeting.
“We are looking for the best deal for Canada, we are only going to accept the best deal for Canada, that is very much informed by our discussions. We understand, as well, we all understand that the global trade environment is changing.”
The prime minister said the premiers should unite to build a stronger domestic economy.
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Last night, Ontario announced its latest interprovincial trade agreements. The province has now signed deals with 10 other provinces and territories, including Alberta, Manitoba and Nova Scotia.
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The latest deals follow work by Ford and Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston to attempt to reduce internal trade barriers. Moves to reduce interprovincial trade frictions include harmonizing standards and regulations, as well as recognizing qualifications across provincial borders.
“I would also like to commend the series of free trade agreements that have been signed between the provinces,” Carney said. “And Premier Ford, I know there’s been a flurry of additional activity.”
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Quebec, the country’s second most populous province, remains notably absent from the list of agreements Ontario has struck to reduce trade barriers with other jurisdictions.
“I think we’ll get there,” Ford told reporters on Tuesday. “Premier Legault is a very bright business-minded person, and we’ll get there. They’re unique, but we’ll get around to getting it done.”
Carney arrived in Muskoka on Monday evening and headed to Ontario Premier Ford’s Muskoka cottage, where the premier hosted the country’s most senior leaders for an intimate dinner.
“There’s going to be a great conversation round the dinner table tonight — everyone kind of lets their hair down,” Ford said, previewing the meal on Monday afternoon. “That’s one great thing about all the premiers, they’re all political different stripes, but we all just tell each other what’s on our mind.”
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After the approximately two-hour meeting, set to end around noon on Tuesday, Carney will briefly take questions and then depart. A meeting only of the premiers will follow.
The country’s first ministers will take part in a working lunch where they’ll hear from former ambassadors and then launch into a full meeting of the Council of the Federation.
That is expected to be dominated by trade discussions and questions about the United States, although it may also include a wildfire update.
In the evening, Ford will host a reception for premiers and various stakeholders, where the lieutenant governor will also deliver remarks.
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