Premiers looking for a tariff battle plan from Carney during sit

Premiers looking for a tariff battle plan from Carney during sit-down in P.E.I.

Prime minister meeting with provincial and territorial leaders amid trade war escalation

Canada's premiers are sitting down with Prime Minister Mark Carney Thursday in Charlottetown, where they say they're hoping for more insight into how he plans to negotiate with U.S. President Donald Trump.

The 13 provincial and territorial leaders are in Prince Edward Island for their annual summer meetings. The agenda was uprooted when the U.S. administration announced that it will impose 50 per cent tariffs on billions of dollars' worth of Canadian imports come Aug. 19.

"I hope we go aggressive and try to make real progress," said P.E.I. Premier Rob Lantz on Thursday morning.

Conversations about potential retaliatory measures have been swirling around the Charlottetown conference this week, with Ontario's Doug Ford advocating for a hardline approach, even leveraging Canada's energy supply, in the face of new tariffs.

"It's very hard to deal with President Trump when he changes his mind every single day," said Ford on the last day of meeting on the Island.

"One day, the prime minister is with him side by side, and the next thing you know, President Trump turns on him like a rabid dog."

Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew said he's looking for more details during the face-to-face meeting with Carney about what measures the federal government is looking at if talks sour before that deadline.

"I think the American president is very vulnerable right now. The cost of living is a political disaster for Donald Trump," Kinew said on Wednesday.

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"A lot of people in Canada are saying in order for us to get a [Canada-U.S.-Mexico Agreement] deal, we should give them a win. I'm wondering whether we should."

British Columbia Premier David Eby said his province is ready to act if called upon.

"If the prime minister calls British Columbia and says he needs support with some big sticks to have conversations at the table, then we will be there," he said during a news conference on Wednesday with his counterparts.

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith has said she doesn't believe in retaliatory tariffs, especially when it comes to oil.

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She struck a positive tone ahead of Thursday's first ministers' meeting, saying she hopes the outstanding tariffs — including those on the auto, steel, aluminum and softwood industries — can also be dealt with in the coming weeks.

"I think this is a window — this month that we have, or 28 days — to sharpen the pencils and sharpen the focus," she said.

A joint communiqué from the premiers coming out of their Council of the Federation meeting Wednesday urged the Carney government “to maintain a clear, timely consultation process with provinces and territories during negotiations.”

Carney is expected to take media questions later in the day.