Meeting of provincial premiers | A Council of the Federation under the shadow of Donald Trump

(Toronto) The premiers of the provinces and territories are meeting in Toronto until Monday, to discuss relations between Canada and the United States, while the specter of Donald Trump looms on this side of the border .

The president-elect is threatening to impose 25% tariffs on all goods from Canada and Mexico unless both countries act to stop the influx of “illegal immigrants” and fentanyl.

Relations between the two countries will be on the agenda of the prime ministers’ talks during this meeting of the Council of the Federation.

However, there is dissension within the provinces regarding the strategy to adopt in the face of the sword of Damocles that hangs over the Canadian economy.

While the Prime Minister of Ontario, Doug Ford, favors a hard line – he proposed cutting off energy to the Americans – his Quebec counterpart, François Legault, thinks that we should aim more to appease Donald Trump as for immigrants crossing from Canada to the United States.

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith said “under no circumstances will Alberta end oil and gas exports.” M^me Smith said she much preferred the “diplomatic” approach.

The Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador, Andrew Furey, is also against Doug Ford’s idea.

In an interview with CBC, Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe indicated that he does not want Canada to impose tariffs in response to Trump’s threat.

British Columbia Premier David Eby, for his part, has not ruled out the idea of ​​a tariff retaliation against the United States, according to the public broadcaster.

The federal government has already indicated that it intends to respond if the president-elect carries out his threat.

Provincial and territorial leaders are scheduled to have dinner together on Sunday evening. A press briefing is planned for Monday at 2 p.m.