By Martin Lopatka - https://www.flickr.com/photos/apothecary/11967928633/, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=77746881
Premiers wrap Muskoka summit with focus on trade tensions and domestic priorities
MUSKOKA, Ont. — The First Ministers conference is wrapping up with premiers showing a united front on domestic priorities and growing concern over U.S. trade tensions. Alberta Premier Danielle Smith voiced frustration with delays in renegotiating the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement, saying Donald Trump is “getting quite aggressive” with threats of new tariffs on autos, steel and copper.
Smith said a quick deal on those sectors by August 1 would be a win, even if broader negotiations take longer. She also noted the unpredictability of U.S. policy, warning things could “change in five minutes,” and said she is closely monitoring Trump’s posts on Truth Social.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford was more blunt, saying “Trump is acting like the enemy” and that he doesn’t trust the former president’s handling of trade. Despite that, several premiers expressed confidence in the federal government’s negotiation team and said they would prefer to wait for the best possible deal.
Alongside trade, the premiers tackled issues like bail reform, internal trade barriers, and health care funding. They also met with Prime Minister Mark Carney for an update on U.S. negotiations and agreed on the need for stronger federal-provincial cooperation as economic pressures mount.
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