Prime Minister Justin Trudeau participated in a virtual meeting of the Cabinet committee on Canada-U.S. relations Friday as people inside and outside the Liberal caucus call for his resignation.
The committee met in anticipation of President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration on January 20.
A spokesperson for the Prime Minister’s Office explained that Justin Trudeau is not an official member of the committee on relations between the United States and Canada but that his presence underlines the importance of the work of this committee to protect the interests Canadians.
Mr. Trump has promised to implement tariffs of 25% on imports from Canada and Mexico unless those two countries meet his demand for stronger border security.
He also taunted Mr. Trudeau on social media, suggesting that Canada should become 51e American state and calling the prime minister a governor. He also argued that the United States subsidizes Canada through its trade relations.
The committee was made up of different members and leaders after the cabinet reshuffle following the resignation of Chrystia Freeland. The new Minister of Public Safety, David McGuinty, is now a member of the committee, and the Minister of Finance, Dominic LeBlanc, replaces Ms. Freeland as chair.
Open in full screen mode
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau went to Mar-a-Lago, Florida, on November 30 to meet President-elect Donald Trump. (Archive photo)
Photo: Taken from Justin Trudeau’s X account
Mr. Trudeau traveled to Florida on November 30 to meet with Mr. Trump and several of his senior Cabinet ministers met with the president-elect’s team last Friday.
After the committee meeting, the Prime Minister visited the U.S. Embassy in Ottawa and signed a book of condolences for former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, who died at the age of 100 on December 29 . He did not speak to the media on this occasion and has no other public activities planned on Friday.
Open in full screen mode
Justin Trudeau signed a book of condolences in honor of former US President Jimmy Carter on January 3, 2025.
Photo: The Canadian Press / Justin Tang
Wave of calls for his resignation
In Ottawa, Prime Minister Trudeau continues to face pressure to resign as Liberal leader. These pressures have been incessant since the resignation of Chrystia Freeland as Minister of Finance last month.
Before the holiday break, Natural Resources Minister Jonathan Wilkinson told The Canadian Press that Mr. Trudeau was taking time to think about his political future.
Green Party Leader Elizabeth May took aim at the incoming Trump administration Friday morning, stressing that Canada will never become 51e État.
Honestly, Mr. Trump, you need to get used to this idea
Ms. May said at a press conference, hoping that she will be seen as hostile to the Trump administration.
We love our country. And it is a country. It is a nation. And we don’t aspire to be the 51e État [américain]then we don’t want to hear about it anymore. If it was a joke, it was never funny, and it stops now
she added.
Open in full screen mode
Green Party of Canada Leader Elizabeth May (File photo)
Photo : Michael McArthur/CBC
Although she doubts her comments will be read or heard by Donald Trump himself, May believes many Canadians want the country’s leaders to be more assertive in their rejection of the idea of Canada’s membership in the United States. United.
The leader of the Green Party cited as an example a column published earlier this week by former Liberal MP Clifford Lincoln.
Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre also rejected this idea before the holiday break.
