Canadians worried about being slapped with U.S. tariffs Monday can breathe a brief sigh of relief as President-elect Donald Trump is reportedly not going to impose tariffs on day one of his presidency, as previously threatened.
According to U.S. media reports, including by the Wall Street Journal, Trump is planning to issue a presidential memorandum for trade policies to be scrutinized on day one of his presidency but won’t impose the tariffs.
The memo will direct U.S. federal agencies to evaluate America’s trade policies with Canada and others but won’t implement his threatened 25% tariffs on all Canadian imports.
Canadian leaders braced themselves for the imposition of Trump’s potential tariffs following his inauguration Monday.
The memo is set to direct the U.S. federal agencies to “investigate and remedy” persistent trade deficits and currency policies by other nations. The agencies will have to examine the trade policies and offer Trump recommendations for action.
According to the WSJ, the memo will direct agencies to scrutinize China, Canada and Mexico in particular.
Instead of a day on tariffs, the U.S. agencies will be directed to evaluate the status of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), which is set for review in 2026.
The article cites a Trump policy adviser who said the memo is an effort by the incoming administration to “lay out a vision” for Trump’s trade plan in “a measured way.”
According to the advisor, the memo provides a blueprint for potential executive action that Trump can take in terms of trade.
Originally, Trump threatened 25% tariffs against all Canadian imports if Canada did not secure its border against drug smuggling and illegal immigration.
After provincial leaders began to mobilize to secure the border in the various provinces while awaiting a federal plan to do so, President Trump changed his rhetoric and said he would use “economic force” in a bid to annex Canada.
Trump will be sworn in at noon in Washington, D.C.
Former finance minister Chrystia Freeland launched her campaign to accusations of genocide and a steady stream of interruptions by anti-Israel activists.
Speaking Sunday in Toronto, Freeland seemed unable to move forward in her speech when multiple people shouted, chanted, and at some points even joined her on stage, with seemingly no security in site to deal with it.
“F*ck you, Freeland, you can’t hide. We charge you with genocide.”
Chrystia Freeland’s Liberal leadership launch was repeatedly interrupted by over a dozen anti-Israel protesters. pic.twitter.com/IetrbL4VV4
Freeland eventually leaned into it and was able to complete her remarks.
“I am not going to let anyone stop me from working with you, from talking with you, and from talking about how we together are going to stand up for our amazing country,” she said.
Freeland became the fifth candidate to enter the race Sunday, joining former Liberal MP Frank Baylis, backbench Liberal MP Chandra Arya, and then former Liberal House leader Karina Gould, who kicked off her campaign hours before Freeland.
Freeland and Gould are the former members of Trudeau’s cabinet.
Freeland positioned herself as the best leader to take on incoming U.S. President Donald Trump, bragging that he doesn’t like her and touting her record in negotiating with the United States on Canada’s behalf.
“I’m a tough negotiator,” she said in a campaign video. “During the first Trump administration, I fought hard to protect Canadian jobs, the Canadian economy, and our way of life. And we won.”
Freeland says that she left the Trudeau cabinet because she knows what needs to be done to fight back against Trump and his “billionaire buddies.”
“I left Trudeau’s cabinet because I know what we need to do to win that fight again,” said Freeland.
“Donald Trump and his billionaire buddies think they can push us around. Trump thinks we’re for sale. That he can take what isn’t his. We’re not gonna let him.”
Freeland was a member of the Trudeau government for over nine years, serving as minister of international trade, foreign affairs minister, intergovernmental affairs minister, and finance minister.
Last month, Freeland resigned as Trudeau’s finance minister, voicing her opposition to the Trudeau government’s approach to dealing with President-elect Trump and economic policy, condemning the government’s “costly political gimmicks.”
Gould acknowledged in her campaign launch that Canadians have lost trust in the Liberal party. She made a pitch to Liberal members to place their faith in her to rebuild the party and win the next federal election.
“Right now, Canadians have lost faith in our party, and we have to earn back their trust,” said Gould.
“We need to rebuild our party so that we can keep building our country. We need new leadership to fight for everyday Canadians.”
Gould is running on a message of optimism and hope, attempting to contrast herself with the Conservatives who she says think Canada is broken and want to become Americans.
“Canada can be the best place in the world to start a family, grow a business, and build a future. We are a nation of dreamers and doers, creators and innovators. It’s where opportunity, empathy and progress walk hand in hand.”
It’s time for a new generation of leadership. I'm here for Canada and for you today, tomorrow and for years to come. pic.twitter.com/4GpuNzFFS2
Freeland has received several endorsements from her Liberal caucus colleagues including Health Minister Mark Holland, Fisheries and Oceans Minister Diane Lebouthillier, MPs Anthony Housefather, Ken Hardie, Ken McDonald, and more. Gould on the other hand was endorsed by Ontario MP Pam Damoff.
Calgary City Council rejected a motion to freeze salaries at 2024 levels after various councillors and the mayor came forth with proposals the week before.
The motion proposed freezing salaries at 2024 levels, which would have resulted in a marginal salary decrease for councillors as the recent pay increase would have been rolled back.
The motion resulted in a 7-7 vote. Ties result in motions being defeated. Also, the motion would have required a two-thirds majority to pass because the previous pay increases were approved on the average weekly earnings formula.
The start of the new year saw the mayor and councillors receive a 3.07% pay raise, bringing the total raises to 9.49% since 2022. Councillors are paid $124,462.60 annually, and the mayor is paid $220,298.83.
City councillor Sonya Sharp introduced the motion and had some strong words following its defeat.
Sharp said she believes councillors should have a set wage throughout their four-year term.
“When you run for Council, you should know what you’ll be paid—and if you’re only running for the prospect of a raise every year, you’re running for the wrong reasons,” said Sharp.
She said that the city council should not receive an automatic pay raise this year, or any year.
“It’s just the fact that when I have constituents calling me about a 60% assessment increase, I have a tough time taking a pay raise,” said Sharp.
Sharp, like Mayor Jyoti Gondek, voted in favour of the motion to freeze pay increases.
One of the councillors who voted against the motion, thereby supporting the wage increase, Jennifer Wyness, defended her vote.
“Our wages go up and down with Albertans’ wages as directed by citizens. Calgary’s economy is doing well and wages are improving,” she said.
Calgary city councillors earn more than provincial MLAs. Calgary’s mayor makes more than the province’s premier, Danielle Smith, who makes around $185,000 annually.
Gondek said elected officials should not take pay raises while Calgarians are struggling.
“Calgarians are struggling with higher grocery bills, increasing utility rates, & inflation. If we’re asking City Administration to find efficiencies & Calgarians to stretch their budgets, we must hold ourselves to the same standard,” said Gondek.
Canadian Taxpayers Federation Alberta director Kris Sims told True North that the council should not only freeze pay raises but also refocus on the municipal government’s core purposes — to keep the streets and infrastructure safe, clean, and in good repair.
“Being a city councillor was never supposed to be a full-time dream career for politicians who want to save the world,” said Sims. “It was supposed to be a part-time role for people like small business owners, retired teachers, and former cops, so a stipend for their ‘public service’ was just fine.”
Sharp took a similar stance in her rebuke of the vote.
“If you don’t want to run because you don’t get a raise every year, then you know what? Maybe it’s not the job for you,” said Sharp. “Maybe you’re running for the wrong reasons. I know that this job requires a lot of work, but it’s really the impact that we have on Calgarians, and they see that.”
The Bank of Canada has released its review of pandemic-era policy measures highlighting a need for improved communication and transparency regarding its actions during the COVID-19 crisis.
The review, supported by an independent external assessment, aims to guide future responses.
“The Bank of Canada is a learning institution, and we must take on board the lessons from this unprecedented experience,” said Bank of Canada Governor Tiff Macklem. “This review is important for our accountability and will help us be better prepared and more effective should Canada ever face another economic crisis like this one.”
During the pandemic, the Bank used large-scale asset purchases to stabilize financial markets and later shifted to monetary stimulus through quantitative easing. The review found that failing to distinguish between these objectives created confusion.
“The Bank’s top priority was to get markets working again so that households, businesses, and governments could continue to access credit,” reads the review.
Moving forward, the Bank has pledged to design future programs with clear objectives and exit strategies to avoid misinterpretation.
The review also assessed “Extraordinary Forward Guidance”, used to signal that interest rates would stay low until specific economic conditions were met. While EFG reduced uncertainty, it sometimes led to misconceptions about the duration of low rates. The Bank plans to tie future guidance more explicitly to inflation targets.
“A risk with EFG is that efforts to communicate it as simply as possible can lead markets or the public to interpret it as a broader guarantee than intended,” reads the review. “And if a central bank does not follow what it is perceived to have said, it can be accused of breaking its promise.”
The Bank called for EFG to be tied more clearly to the inflation outlook in the future.
Additionally, the Bank acknowledged it underestimated the rapid rebound in demand during the pandemic and its effect on inflation. However, it concluded that its policies did not independently push inflation significantly above the 2% target.
Macklem previously admitted that federal government overspending and printing too much money via pandemic stimulus packages worsened inflation. When he made those claims back in 2022, he called for a thorough review of the pandemic policies.
Looking ahead, the Bank is enhancing forecasting tools to account for supply chain dynamics and price-setting behaviour. Macklem emphasized that lessons learned will ensure the Bank is better prepared for future crises.
The pantheon of Canadian historical figures got a bit smaller last year.
In 2019, Parks Canada began scrutinizing thousands of bronze historical plaques scattered across the country commemorating nationally significant persons, places and events. The review is part of an effort to “advance reconciliation and to confront the legacy of colonialism.”
To date, 229 subjects have been identified as problematic enough to warrant further investigation. Plaques might be revised or in “exceptional circumstances” the designations could be revoked entirely. Despite reassurances from Parks Canada that “History is not being erased through the review of these designations,” some plaques have already begun to disappear.
Plaques were recently removed for Confederation-era senior administrator Edgar Dewdney, western Canadian journalists-cum-politicians Nicholas Flood Davin and Frank Oliver, plus Duncan Campbell Scott, the long-time deputy superintendent of the federal Department of Indians Affairs. They were all found guilty of “colonial assumptions”, through their association with federal Indigenous policy and Canada’s now-reviled Indian Residential Schools.
While it was claimed that these plaques were removed on a “temporary” basis, it was recently confirmed that “No new plaque will be prepared as the limited text of a plaque does not allow for adequately communicating the complex history”.
That is surprising, since many other Federal plaques do describe events that are anything but simple. The “Winnipeg General Strike” or “Japanese Canadian Internment” involve complex themes and conflicting viewpoints.
While some plaques were being consigned to the dustbin, Ottawa was enhancing the reputation of another “settler-colonial” interloper.
Joseph Broussard dit Beausoleil recently received a new plaque and all the recognition that goes with it. According to Parks Canada, Beausoleil was a heroic resistance fighter rebelling against British oppression in what is now Atlantic Canada, despite committing many objectively horrible war crimes, including scalping and killing innocent civilians during a 1751 raid known as the “Dartmouth Massacre”.
How did Beausoleil escape Parks Canada’s revisionism? He was surely guilty of “colonial assumptions” and polite society today tends to frown on scalping and murdering civilians. Perhaps the key difference lies in Beausoleil’s native tongue.
Consider also the contrast between the treatment of Sir John A. Macdonald, Canada’s founding prime minister, and Canada’s seventh, Sir Wilfrid Laurier, Canada’s first Quebec-born Prime Minister whom outgoing Prime Minister Justin Trudeau often heralded as an inspiration, frequently citing his “Sunny Ways” catchphrase.
Macdonald once enjoyed an even greater reputation. Today, that reputation lies in tatters with much of the animosity emanating from the federal government. At Macdonald’s former home in Kingston, Ontario, for example, a display describes him as “a monster” for his promotion of residential schools and his immigration policy, including the infamous Chinese head tax, is similarly excoriated.
Yet everything Macdonald did, Laurier did worse.
Laurier oversaw a vast expansion of residential schools and some of his other policies led to objectively worse outcomes for Canada’s Indigenous people. His government also ignored reports detailing the deadly effect of tuberculosis in the schools. Laurier also instituted measures to limit black, Chinese, Japanese and Indian migration to Canada.
Despite all this, Laurier’s reputation has remained untouched. He is not on a review list, his name is still on display across the country, and Parks Canada’s Laurier House National Historic Site provides no signs alerting visitors to its former resident being “a monster.” Adding insult to injury, Frank Oliver served as a cabinet minister in Laurier’s government.
The difference in how English and French-Canadian historical figures are treated extends to others, including well-known explorer and “Father of New France” Samuel de Champlain, whose statue stands proudly in Quebec City but was removed in Orillia, Ontario. And the mid-20th century Quebec clergyman Lionel Groulx who expressed a variety of problematic and offensive views, but whose name continues to adorn numerous public facilities in the province.
Several factors might explain this linguistic divide. First, wokeism has been a mainly Anglo-centric fixation. At the height of the global statue-toppling craze in 2020 when most politicians went silent in the face of angry mobs, French President Emmanuel Macron took a strong and principled stand in defence of historical fact stating that “The Republic will erase no trace or names of its history,” and “It will overturn no statues”. Quebec premier Franҁois Legault said something similar when Macdonald’s statue was torn down in Montreal. Gallic pride may be a defence against wokeist historical destruction.
It can also be argued that history matters more to francophone Quebecers than other Canadians due to their unique circumstances. As a small island of mostly French language and culture in a vast English-speaking ocean, Quebec’s French-speaking residents are more attuned to the significance of having, maintaining and defending a common identity and heritage.
And finally, there is politics. Given the importance of culture and identity to Quebec, taking on the legacy of a Laurier or Champlain would be a risky proposition politically, particularly given the federal Liberals long reliance on Quebec voters.
Whatever the explanation, it still doesn’t make it right. The disappearing plaques were meant to spark curiosity and discussion and provided a modest but important contribution to communicating Canada’s history by highlighting the people, places and events that shaped it for good or for ill and sometimes for both.
If Ottawa can find a way to honour Beausoleil despite his complexity, surely we can do the same for Dewdney, Scott, Davin and Oliver.
Larry Ostola served as Vice-President of Heritage Conservation and Commemoration at Parks Canada. The original, longer version of this story first appeared in C2C Journal.
Alberta shattered housing construction records in 2024, leading the nation in per capita housing starts as more Canadians sought improved affordability prospects.
The record number of home builds had an immediate effect in lowering rent.
“As the population continues to grow, Alberta’s government recognizes the need for more housing options. That’s why the province has been clearing the way for more homes to be built faster to help Albertans find housing that meets their needs and budgets – and it’s working,” reads a press release from the Alberta government.
Calgary saw the largest annual decrease in rental prices nationwide, tied with Toronto’s 7.2% decline.
Similarly, Alberta was the province that saw rent decelerate the most nationwide, according to Rentals.ca’s Jan. 2025 Rent Report. The province saw rent growth slow from 15.6% in 2023 to 1.6% in 2024, with average rents reaching $1,718 in Dec.
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith said the province was fast-tracking construction and cutting red tape so that more Albertans could find homes that fit their budgets and needs.
“Together, we’re turning permits into progress and building Alberta’s future,” said Smith.
Some of the initiatives implemented by the province include the “Stop Housing Delays” online portal, releasing provincial land for housing projects, and exempting designated affordable housing from property taxes.
Housing starts increased by 32% provincewide between 2023 and 2024, rising from 35,223 to 46,632. Alberta’s biggest cities also saw increases, with housing starts rising 39% in Edmonton and 24% in Calgary. The largest increases were seen in smaller cities like Red Deer and Lethbridge, which saw 84% and 194% increases in housing starts, respectively.
Between 2023 and 2024, housing starts rose 2% nationwide, according to Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation. Housing starts saw a 16% decrease in Ontario.
During the first half of 2024, the province built more apartment units than any other half-year in Albertan history, breaking the previous record set in 1977.
A previous survey highlighted that almost three in ten Canadians, 28%, were seriously considering leaving their province due to the cost of housing. Alberta was the most common destination for desired relocation.
Rent increases slowing down in Alberta is the opposite of what happened last year, when Alberta had the fastest-growing rent in the province.
The Parliamentary Budget Officer previously reported that the Liberals’ reduced immigration targets would cut the housing gap in half by 2030.
Rents nationwide saw the first annual decrease since the pandemic in Nov. 2024. Associate Director of Communications for Rentals.ca, Giacomo Ladas, told True North that these decreases were attributable to housing starts reaching their highest levels in decades and immigration slowing down.
Aside from initiatives to cut red tape and incentivize housing construction, the Alberta government has also made significant investments in affordable housing. Since 2019, Alberta’s government has invested nearly $850 million in building 5,100 affordable housing units and almost 900 shelter spaces.
The Iranian nuclear project has been under development for decades, posing an increasing threat to global security. Over the years, the international community, particularly the United States, Western powers, and Israel, has expressed mounting concerns. Recently, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) reported that Iran is alarmingly close to acquiring weapons-grade nuclear capabilities, with uranium enrichment nearing 90%—a critical threshold for bomb production. This reality demands urgent and decisive action.
The first option often proposed is a diplomatic solution. Negotiations such as the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) sought to halt Iran’s nuclear ambitions through international oversight and sanctions relief. However, these efforts have repeatedly failed. Iran has a long history of violating agreements, using diplomacy as a cover to advance its nuclear program covertly. For instance, satellite imagery and intelligence have exposed secret nuclear facilities in Fordow and Natanz, undermining the credibility of Iranian commitments. Diplomacy, while ideal in theory, has proven ineffective against a regime that thrives on duplicity.
The second option is to accept Iran as a nuclear power. This approach, however, is fraught with risks. A nuclear-armed Iran would embolden its regional aggression, intensify its support for proxy groups like Hezbollah and Hamas, and destabilize an already volatile Middle East. The regime’s theocratic and ultra-radical nature amplifies the danger. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei wields near-absolute authority, meaning a single individual could unilaterally decide to deploy nuclear weapons. The potential for miscalculation or deliberate escalation makes this option unacceptable, not only for Israel but for the broader international community.
Given these realities, a third and more pragmatic option emerges: a military operation targeting Iran’s nuclear facilities. Israel, whose very survival is threatened by Iran’s repeated calls for its annihilation, has consistently asserted that it will not allow Tehran to acquire nuclear weapons. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu famously stated, “The lessons of history have taught us that the Jewish people cannot afford to be passive in the face of existential threats.”
Until now, regional dynamics have constrained Israel’s ability to act. However, the tide has turned. Iran’s proxies are significantly weakened. Hezbollah has suffered crippling losses in leadership and infrastructure following confrontations with Israel. Hamas and Islamic Jihad in Gaza are similarly debilitated, with their operational capacities severely reduced. The Assad regime in Syria has fallen. This diminished network of proxies reduces the likelihood of coordinated retaliation against Israel, creating a window of opportunity for preemptive action.
Additionally, geopolitical shifts favor such an operation. Trump’s return to the white house could bolster Israeli efforts. During his previous term, Trump withdrew from the JCPOA, reinstated stringent sanctions on Iran, and demonstrated unwavering support for Israeli security. His previous administration’s actions, such as the targeted killing of Qassem Soleimani (Iranian military leader), showcased a willingness to confront Iranian aggression directly.
Canada’s stance on this issue is also worth noting. Conservative Party leader Pierre Poilievre, the frontrunner in the next federal election, has expressed unequivocal support for Israel’s right to defend itself. As Poilievre stated, “Canada stands firmly with Israel against threats to its existence, and we will not waver in opposing the Iranian regime’s dangerous agenda.”
The path forward may be fraught with challenges, but the stakes are too high to allow inaction. For the sake of regional stability, global security, and the future of liberal democracies, decisive measures must be taken to prevent Iran from becoming a nuclear power.
Dotan Rousso was born and raised in Israel and holds a Ph.D. in Law. He is a former criminal prosecutor in Israel. He currently lives in Alberta and teaches Philosophy at the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT).
Liberal leadership candidate Mark Carney launched his campaign this week but independent media, including True North, were not welcome at his campaign launch event as police removed independent journalists off the premises at the direction of Carney’s campaign.
Plus, as the likelihood of U.S. tariffs becomes more real, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith said she would not allow for tariffs to be applied to her province’s energy, nor would she entertain the idea of cutting off Canada’s biggest trading partner.
And the Alberta government has implemented a new GPS monitoring program aiming to fight Canada’s catch-and-release bail system that has let high-risk and repeat offenders roam free.
Tune into The Alberta Roundup with Isaac Lamoureux!
A think tank is calling on governments to act immediately as a shocking number of Canadians died waiting for healthcare in 2024.
At least 15,474 Canadians died last year while waiting for healthcare, but the actual number is probably double, a new study shows.
According to SecondStreet.Org, when the jurisdictions that provide no data are accounted for, the actual number of Canadians who died on wait lists is likely closer to 28,077.
The 15,474 Canadians who died while waiting for healthcare do not include those from Quebec, Alberta, Newfoundland and Labrador, and most of Manitoba. Additionally, Saskatchewan and Nova Scotia only provided data on those who died waiting for surgeries, not diagnostic scans.
“These figures cover everything from cancer treatment and heart operations to cataract surgery and MRI scans,” reads SecondStreet.org’s release.
Since Apr. 2018, SecondStreet confirmed that 74,677 Canadians died while waiting for healthcare.
The organization said that patients died from waiting less than a week for treatment for up to over 14 years.
According to former physician and CEO of RCM Health and Healtheon Dr. Raymond Rupert, Canada’s healthcare system is not set up in such a way that it can meet current capacity needs.
“The system itself appears designed to limit growth and capacity, creating bottlenecks that worsen wait times. We’re seeing a concerning trend where fewer doctors are entering family practice, while existing physicians are taking on smaller patient loads due to burnout and administrative overload. All of this creates a perfect storm that leads to devastating wait times,” Dr. Rupert told True North.
Legislative and Policy Director of SecondStreet.org, Harrison Fleming, said that thousands of Canadians find themselves on waitlists nationwide, oftentimes for several years, with too many dying before ever seeing a doctor.
“Canadians pay really high taxes, and yet our healthcare system is failing when compared to better-performing universal systems in Europe,” said Fleming.
In 2022, Canada’s per capita health spending was $8,119, surpassed only by Sweden and France.
SecondStreet.org highlighted in a policy brief that spending has increased at more than double the rate of inflation since 1993, despite Canada’s plummeting performance.
“It is clear money alone cannot solve this healthcare crisis,” reads the brief.
The 15,474 deaths were calculated between Apr. 1, 2023, and Mar. 31, 2024.
Dr. Rupert told True North that governments need to find the sweet spot when it comes to a mixed public and private healthcare system that plays on the strength of both models.
“The ideal balance between public and private healthcare in Canada isn’t about choosing one over the other – it’s about finding smart ways to combine their strengths. Core medical services should remain publicly funded to maintain universal access, but there’s room for private sector innovation in building capacity and delivering supplementary services,” explained Dr. Rupert.
SecondStreet recommended various healthcare reform options for the government to consider.
Among the recommendations were to improve tracking and disclosure, to incentivize output instead of block funding, to allow choice in healthcare through private competition, to partner with non-government clinics, and cross-border directives like those implemented in Europe.
“As a physician with over 40 years of experience and having founded both RCM Health and Healtheon, I strongly agree with these recommendations, though their implementation requires careful consideration,” said Dr. Rupert.
“Regarding incentivizing healthcare output, we need to be thoughtful about implementation. I’ve watched physician productivity decline significantly – average patient rosters dropping from 1,746 to 1,430 – not because doctors lack motivation, but because they’re drowning in administrative work.”
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced the creation of a Canada-U.S. relations council to aid the federal government in dealing with incoming U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariff threat.
The 18-member council includes Steve Verheul, who served as Canada’s chief trade negotiator during the renegotiation of NAFTA as well as former provincial premiers Jean Charest (Quebec), Rachel Notley (Alberta) and Stephen McNeil (Nova Scotia).
“The council will use sectoral expertise to support the prime minister and cabinet at this important time in the Canada-U.S. relationship,” reads a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office released Thursday.
The Trudeau government said it will wait until after Trump applies import tariffs before announcing any specific retaliatory measures following Wednesday’s meeting between the prime minister and the premiers.
“We are all united on one thing, which is we will stand up for Canada. We will protect Canadians. We will make sure that we are there to show what this country is made of,” said Trudeau.
“If the American administration moves forward with its plans on tariffs, it will, first and foremost, hurt American citizens and American consumers, but it will also hurt Canadians.”
However, Canada’s ambassador to the U.S. told CTV News that there has been no sign from Trump’s incoming administration that the tariffs will be avoided, despite the government’s recent border security plan announcement.
“We’ve done some really great things on the border, which is what the incoming administration asked of us, and they’ve given us very good feedback on that. I know that that plan has been presented to the president, but we have not received an assurance,” said Hillman, who is also a member of the council.
Trump has vowed to impose a 25% tariff on all Canadian imports immediately upon taking office and with his inauguration now less than a week away, economists are bracing for the worst.
The tariffs are a punitive measure for Canada’s lax approach to border security.
“What I would say to Canadians, we just need to try and not jump the gun, not get over our skis,” said Hillman. “Let’s see what happens, let’s respond in a unified and firm way, and not escalate, but be strong.”
The new Canada-U.S. council will also include former ambassador David MacNaughton and the prime minister’s former national security Jody Thomas among others.
