For Ontario Premier Doug Ford, the Canada-US relationship is a game of poker. You don’t show your hand in the middle of a poker game!
he pleaded upon arriving at the federal-provincial meeting to argue that no response should be ruled out by Canada.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford wore a cap that read “Canada is not for sale.”
Photo: The Canadian Press / Justin Tang
For his colleague from Newfoundland and Labrador, it is rather a game of chess that Canada is playing.
Energy is king in this game of chess, said Andrew Furey. We don’t have to expose our queen too soon. Our opponent needs to know that our queen exists, but he doesn’t need to know what we are going to do with her.
Yukon Premier Ranj Pillai preferred a hockey analogy, saying all provinces could score goals in different ways.
If Canadian politicians don’t know what game they’re supposed to be playing, it’s because Donald Trump is making up the rules during the game.
To justify his intention to impose tariffs on his main economic ally, the president-elect first criticized Canada (and Mexico) for the management of its border with the United States. He thus provoked a commotion in Ottawa, which rushed to present a $1.3 billion plan intended to strengthen security at the border.
However, Donald Trump quickly changed the pretext by then pointing to the United States’ trade deficit to explain his intention to impose tariff barriers. It doesn’t matter that this trade deficit is linked to the import of Canadian oil, which the United States badly needs.
What new reason will Donald Trump give in the future? In the guessing game, Canada necessarily loses.
Justin Trudeau said the details of the Canadian response will depend on the actions of the new American administration.
Photo : Reuters / Blair Gable
Fracture shallower than expected
The Trudeau government can nevertheless rejoice in one thing: the divide between the provinces, which seemed inevitable at the start of the day, is ultimately much less serious than anticipated.
-With one exception: the prime ministers all agreed to sit side by side for the press briefing (new window) who closed the meeting and to affix their signature to the bottom of the joint press release.
Only Alberta Premier Danielle Smith refused to take part in this united front (new window). In a statement on social media, she said she cannot support the federal plan if Ottawa continues to float the idea of cutting off Americans’ access to Canadian energy resources, such as oil, or imposing export tariffs.
His Ontario counterpart Doug Ford gave him a scathing response. It’s his choice, he decided. I have a somewhat different theory: you can protect your province, but the country must come first. Canada is the priority.
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith, who attended the meeting virtually, refused to sign the joint press release.
Photo: The Canadian Press / Sean Kilpatrick
The other provinces have agreed to water down their wine. Asked about the possibility of imposing tariffs on hydroelectricity exports on the United States, Quebec Premier François Legault maintained that no option should be excluded. Even Saskatchewan’s combative Premier Scott Moe seemed willing to cooperate.
So, if the provinces do not agree on the game that must be played, apart from Alberta, they all agree on the fact that we must at the very least play.
The real unit test is coming
For now, the threat from Donald Trump and the tariff war that could ensue remain theoretical.
It is easier to show solidarity when we do not know precisely the sacrifice that will have to be made to respond to them or how we will explain these decisions to voters.
Justin Trudeau pleaded Wednesday for the burden to be shared across the country. However, this balance will be difficult to achieve and some provinces will necessarily feel shortchanged.
Team spirit could then take a hit.
