OTTAWA: The United States and Canada continued to clash on the proposed tariffs on Wednesday, as Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his government unveiled a new plan to combat border security at a meeting of first ministers. However, Ontario premier Doug Ford and New Democratic Party (NDP) leader Jagmeet Singh were more critical of Trump and advocated for a stronger response by Canada were the tariffs to be put in place.
President-elect Donald Trump has continued to belittle Canadian PM Justin Trudeau over the past couple days, as Canada proposed steps to tighten border security.
“It was a pleasure to have dinner the other night with Governor Justin Trudeau of the Great State of Canada,” Trump wrote on Truth Social on December 10. The president-elect first began referring to Canada as the 51st state of the US and Trudeau its governor at a dinner with the Canadian PM in his Mar-a-Lago mansion in Florida. After being apprised to the deadly impact tariffs would have on the Canadian economy, Trump suggested incorporating Canada into the US.
“If we’re going to subsidise them, let them become a state,” Trump said to NBC News earlier in the week.
The 25 per cent tariffs that Trump is threatening to impose on all Canadian goods are largely due to what he believes is a lax border that has allowed illegal migrants and drugs to funnel into the US. On Wednesday, Trudeau stated that his government is creating a plan to further secure the border.
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While the plan has yet to be finished, drones and canine units are among the tools Canada will use to fortify the border. Using lab technology to halt the flow of fentanyl into the US, and databases that provide US authorities with background information on people crossing into the country, are other suggested measures.
DOUG FORD – CUT OFF THEIR ENERGY
Following the meeting of first ministers, Ford, the premier of Ontario and leader of the Progressive Conservative Party, expressed a slightly more defensive approach. “We need to be ready to fight,” stated the premier, adding shortly after that they need to “line-up everything that we need to tariff. Energy is at the top of that list.”
“We will go to the extent of cutting off their energy, going down to Michigan, going down to New York State and over to Wisconsin.”
Doug Ford, premier of Ontario
The premier stated that they “will go to the full extent depending how far this goes,” due to the fact this his “number one job is to protect Ontarians and Canadians as a whole.”
“This is coming, its not if it is, its coming and its coming January 20 or January 21,” Ford said before proclaiming that Canada “can’t sit back and roll over.”
Another topic brought up in the meeting according to Ford were the comments Trudeau made regarding Kamala Harris this past Tuesday.
“The United States voted for a second time to not elect its first woman president, everywhere women’s rights and women’s progress is under attack, overtly and subtly.”
Justin Trudeau, Canadian PM
Elon Musk, Trump’s nominee to head the newly created Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), responded to the comments which revolved around women’s rights and the recent US election by calling Trudeau an “insufferable tool.” Ford also criticised Trudeau for his statement, saying “it’s not helpful at all, Donald Trump was elected democratically.”
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“If you like him or you don’t like him, that’s not our issue.”
Doug Ford, premier of Ontario
JAGMEET SINGH – TRUMP IS A BULLY
NDP leader Jagmeet Singh also suggested retaliatory tariffs as a response to what he dubbed a “direct threat to hundreds and thousands of Canadian jobs”, all while being extremely critical of Trudeau.
“Anytime Trump says Jump, Trudeau says how high,” Singh said, criticising the PM’s response to Trump’s tariffs threats, which he claims Trudeau has painted as just jokes. Singh stated that they “must acknowledge Trump is a bully.”
The NDP leader expressed that the government needs to be ready to put “retaliatory tariffs” in place, in order to create the deterrent of mutual harm.
“We also have to make sure its very clear, that tariffs on Canada don’t just hurt Canadians, its gonna hurt Americans. We need to make that message very clear, make sure that pain is felt and so he knows this is not the direction he wants to go.”
Jagmeet Singh, NDP leader
RISING TENSIONS
As Trump’s inauguration day approaches, Canadian workers wait to see whether Trudeau’s efforts to fortify the border will placate the soon to be president of America. Meanwhile, Trudeau continues to face criticism on two fronts. While Trump continues to mock Canada and Trudeau as no better than a state and its governor, the Canadian PM faces the ire of his political contemporaries that highlight his feeble response to the tariff threat.
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