Prime Minister Mark Carney chaired a virtual meeting with the premiers Wednesday afternoon as his government prepared for major trade talks with the U.S. and Mexico.
A statement from the Prime Minister's Office said Carney updated the premiers on the status of engagement with the Trump administration on the future of the Canada-U.S.-Mexico Agreement on trade, better known as CUSMA.
Earlier Wednesday, U.S. President Donald Trump said he is "not looking to renew" CUSMA, indicating the United States will blow past a July 1 deadline for renewal.
Speaking in Queen's Park after the virtual meeting Wednesday afternoon — and after his return from meetings in Washington, D.C., with industry groups earlier this week — Ontario Premier Doug Ford said the premiers were told Ottawa is "going to negotiate in good faith, and we are going to get through this.
"The question is, when are we going to get through it? When I was down in Washington, the No. 1 item is the uncertainty. People want certainty, they want stability."
Carney's office said he and the premiers also discussed the government's national electricity strategy to double the amount of power generated by 2050.
This was the first meeting of all premiers since Alberta Premier Danielle Smith announced a fall referendum to consider a future referendum on separation.
Tensions persist between the Alberta and B.C. governments over a proposed oil pipeline to the West Coast. Carney has agreed to work toward that project with the Smith government.
Smith said provinces and territories had the chance during the meeting to voice their priorities regarding their trade relationships with the United States and Mexico.
"We also discussed the importance of a strong Canadian economy as we navigate a period of global uncertainty," Smith said in a statement.
"There was broad support from across the country for working collaboratively to develop Canada’s energy potential and position our nation as a world-leading energy superpower.”
The meeting happened just weeks before the mandatory review of the Canada-United States-Mexico agreement on trade begins on July 1.
National Chief of the Assembly of First Nations Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak also met with Carney Wednesday. A statement said that in addition to planning for a first ministers meeting on First Nations issues later this year, the discussion focused on Parliament’s legislative agenda and the 2026 federal budget.
"First Nations continue to emphasize that nation-building initiatives, clean water and major projects legislation must be developed in partnership, consistent with our rights, jurisdiction and stewardship responsibilities," she said in the statement.
During their meeting, the statement said Nepinak updated Carney on her recent discussion with King Charles III. It also said she welcomed the federal government’s invitation to become more involved in the development of the national AI strategy and that she reaffirmed that First Nations stand "shoulder-to-shoulder with Canadians" against U.S. tariffs.
Picture Courtesy: THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld
