Canada’s provincial and territorial leaders wrapped up a three-day Council of the Federation summit in Muskoka on Wednesday, presenting a united front against U.S. President Donald Trump’s plan to impose a 35 percent tariff on Canadian exports starting Aug. 1. Ontario Premier Doug Ford told reporters the premiers “don’t trust” Trump and described the U.S. president as “acting like the enemy.” Prime Minister Mark Carney joined the gathering on Tuesday to brief premiers on the state of negotiations with Washington. Carney said Ottawa will use “all the time necessary” to secure the best possible agreement, even if talks extend beyond the self-imposed Aug. 1 deadline. Several premiers, including Alberta’s Danielle Smith and Manitoba’s Wab Kinew, indicated they would support a longer timeline if it produced stronger sector-specific safeguards, notably for autos, steel and aluminum. Ford added that he hosted Carney at his Port Sydney cottage on Monday, where the two spoke until after midnight about trade and other national issues. The informal fireside discussion, he said, underscored the close cooperation between federal and provincial leaders as they confront escalating U.S. protectionism.
Trump ‘acting like the enemy,’ Ford says as premiers wrap final day of meetings https://t.co/9qw7HQGfzE
‘He’s very humble’: Ford says Carney stayed at his Muskoka cottage on Monday night https://t.co/j8qlT9zpYr
“So, full disclosure, prime minister stayed at my place. We had dinner. We’re up till 12:30 at night, chatting in front of the fireplace, solving all the world’s problems,” said Ford. https://t.co/ZC5PAITJEn