Prime Minister Mark Carney speaks with the media in Ottawa outside his office on Tuesday after his party swept three by-election races on Monday.Justin Tang/The Canadian Press
Prime Minister Mark Carney said the Liberal Party’s sweep of three by-elections Monday shows Canadians support his government’s approach to trade and the economy.
Speaking with reporters outside of his office on Parliament Hill on Tuesday, Mr. Carney also said Canada is willing to return to the negotiating table once the American side changes its tone.
“When the Americans stop doing memes, stop throwing shade, stop trying to be tough, and start being serious about having those discussions, we can have those discussions,” he said.
The Liberals won by-elections in British Columbia, Ontario and Quebec Monday. The B.C. and Ontario wins were holds for the party, while the victory in Chicoutimi-Le Fjord represents a pickup.
It had previously been held by Conservative Richard Martel, who Mr. Carney nominated to the Senate in July.
“What’s a clear message from last night in three very different ridings across this great diverse country is that Canadians are behind the plan of the government,” Mr. Carney said. He described the government’s plan as building at home and diversifying trade with reliable partners.
The Liberal government is planning to implement $27.6-billion worth of countertariffs as of Sept. 8. They are in response to U.S. President Donald Trump’s new 50-per-cent tariffs imposed on about $28-billion worth of Canadian goods imposed after trade negotiations between the two countries collapsed on Aug. 21.
With just a week to go before Canada’s deadline to impose its countertarrifs, the U.S. government says such a move would lead to further escalation.
U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer told Politico that Canada could see additional tariffs “and you could see import bans on prohibitions similar to the ones that Canada has imposed on us earlier.”
The comment appears to be a reference to restrictions imposed by most provinces related to the sale of U.S. alcohol.