Prime Minister Mark Carney is hosting a meeting with Canada’s premiers at the Canadian War Museum in Ottawa on Friday, with interprovincial trade on the agenda.
The Prime Minister’s Office and the office of Ontario Premier Doug Ford confirmed the details of the meeting.
The gathering comes two days before a federal election is likely to be called.
U.S. President Donald Trump’s trade war escalated last week as the country imposed 25 per cent tariffs on all steel and aluminum imports entering the country, prompting Canada to effectively double its retaliatory tariffs on U.S. goods.
Trump has also repeatedly suggested that Canada should become the 51st state.
Audrey Champoux, Carney’s lead press secretary, says the prime minister has been clear that top priorities for his government include defending Canadians in the face of unjustified trade actions by the U.S., supporting workers and strengthening the economy.
“He committed during his leadership campaign that he would work with the premiers to do so and would convene a first ministers’ meeting at the earliest opportunity, which has now been scheduled for this coming Friday,” Champoux said in a statement.
“This meeting will be a chance for all premiers and Prime Minister Carney to discuss the work ahead, including how they will work collaboratively to create one Canadian economy, instead of 13.”
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith will be attending virtually, while Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Andrew Furey will be in Japan for a trade mission.
Premiers attending in person include Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew, New Brunswick Premier Susan Holt, P.E.I. Premier Rob Lantz, Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston, Quebec Premier François Legault and Ford.
Last week, Ford met with Carney for breakfast at Wally’s Grill in Etobicoke, Ont., where they discussed ongoing trade issues with the Trump administration.
But when a reporter asked Ford earlier this week whether he had a better relationship with Carney or Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, Ford said he didn’t “know either one of them to be frank” and that he would “work with anyone.”
“I don’t represent the federal government, but what I’m trying to do is continue carrying on these conversations,” Ford said. “The last thing we want to do is break away from the table and it starts going back and forth again. But yeah, there’s going to be challenges no doubt.”
With files from CBC’s Meagan Fitzpatrick, Kate McKenna, Raffy Boudjikanian and Marina von Stackelberg
