Tuesday, February 3, 2026
ADVT 
National

Premiers, prime minister meet to talk Trump tariffs after cabinet retreat

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 22 Jan, 2025 11:23 AM
  • Premiers, prime minister meet to talk Trump tariffs after cabinet retreat

Canada's premiers are meeting virtually with the prime minister today to talk about Donald Trump's early moves as president and the looming threat of tariffs.

The first ministers have committed to weekly meetings now that Trump has been installed in the White House.

Trump signed an executive order on Monday directing his government to study alleged unfair trade practices by Canada and Mexico and to file a report by April 1.

Later that day, he mused about imposing 25 per cent tariffs on both countries by Feb. 1, calling Canada a "very bad abuser" for allowing illegal drugs and migrants to enter the U.S.

At their last gathering, which was held in-person in Ottawa, 12 of the 13 premiers signed a joint statement pledging to stand united in the face of the tariff threat.

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith was the lone outlier, and in the days since she has further distanced herself from the group by meeting with U.S. lawmakers and calling for co-operation instead of retaliation.

MORE National ARTICLES

Is Donald Trump kidding? Americans in Canada react to tariff, annexation threats

Is Donald Trump kidding? Americans in Canada react to tariff, annexation threats
Incoming U.S. president Donald Trump has been courting controversy in Canada since his election victory, with threats to impose whopping tariffs on Canadian goods and musings about the country becoming "the 51st state." While Trump's comments have drawn anger and fear among Canadians, reaction from Americans who live, study or work in Canada has been mixed – and largely influenced by how they voted in the presidential election. 

Is Donald Trump kidding? Americans in Canada react to tariff, annexation threats

Liberal MPs gather for first time since Trudeau announced his resignation plans

Liberal MPs gather for first time since Trudeau announced his resignation plans
Liberal MPs are meeting in Ottawa today for the first time since Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced he will step down. The national caucus meeting, set to take place both in person and online, was originally set to last six hours to give MPs time to discuss Trudeau's previous refusal to resign.

Liberal MPs gather for first time since Trudeau announced his resignation plans

How Justin Trudeau captured the zeitgeist, and how he lost it

How Justin Trudeau captured the zeitgeist, and how he lost it
In his early days as prime minister, Justin Trudeau was "cool." In the year that followed his majority sweep into power, he appeared in the pages of Vogue, on the cover of a Marvel comic book and on "The Daily Show," chatting with an up-and-coming Hasan Minhaj.

How Justin Trudeau captured the zeitgeist, and how he lost it

Two Quebec planes and their crews helping fight devastating L.A. wildfires

Two Quebec planes and their crews helping fight devastating L.A. wildfires
A pair of Quebec water bombers and their crews are in California helping fight the massive wildfires tearing through the Los Angeles area. Stéphane Caron of Quebec's forest fire protection agency — SOPFEU — says the two planes are sent to the U.S. each fall as part of an annual contract, the length of which was extended this year because of the emergency.

Two Quebec planes and their crews helping fight devastating L.A. wildfires

B.C. doctors comparing H5N1 virus that infected teen with that of Louisiana patient

B.C. doctors comparing H5N1 virus that infected teen with that of Louisiana patient
The BC Centre for Disease Control says it is comparing the genetic features of a local teenager's avian flu case with that of a Louisiana patient who died earlier this week. Clinical microbiologist Dr. Agatha Jassem, co-program head of the virology lab at the BCCDC Public Health Laboratory, says they want to understand how the viruses in the two cases are related to each other, as well as to viruses circulating in birds.

B.C. doctors comparing H5N1 virus that infected teen with that of Louisiana patient

Dominic LeBlanc says he won't run for Liberal leadership as party caucus meets

Dominic LeBlanc says he won't run for Liberal leadership as party caucus meets
The federal Liberal caucus gathered on Parliament Hill on Wednesday with speculation swirling about which of its members will put their names forward to lead the party into the next election — and with one potential contender bowing out. Just before the meeting got underway, Finance Minister Dominic LeBlanc posted a statement to social media thanking supporters for their encouragement and saying he's decided not to run in the upcoming race.

Dominic LeBlanc says he won't run for Liberal leadership as party caucus meets