Edit Prime Ministers meet to discuss trade, tariffs and national projects

As trade talks between Canada and the United States intensify, Canadian prime ministers begin a three-day meeting in Moscow today, led by Ontario Premier Doug Ford.

Provincial and territorial leaders will gather at noon Monday. Their talks will focus on protecting the domestic economy, advancing national projects and increasing domestic trade by removing barriers, as the trade war with Canada’s closest ally and largest trading partner continues.

The meeting was originally scheduled to take place the same week that Canada and the United States were seeking to finalize a new trade deal, as agreed upon by Prime Minister Mark Carney and President Donald Trump on the sidelines of the Group of Seven summit in Kananaskis last month.

However, the two countries are missing the original July 21 deadline and are now looking to a new target of August 1, the date the U.S. government announced it would raise tariffs on Canadian goods to 35%.

When the targets changed, Carney announced he would be coming to the Cottages to hold a meeting with the premiers, during the summer session of the Federation Council.

On Tuesday, the prime minister will join the premiers for a face-to-face update on the status of the talks and the U.S. government’s threat to increase tariffs.

Recognizing that a tariff-free trade deal is likely out of the question, the premiers will likely have pressing questions for the prime minister about how this will impact jobs and industries in their regions.

“Everyone will bring their own perspective to the meeting,” former Nova Scotia premier Stephen McNeil told CTV News in an interview. “I think it’s really important that Canadian prime ministers focus on the issues that they can make a difference in their own country.”

Ford, as this year’s chair of the council, is hosting the talks, saying “this will be an opportunity to work together on the recent threat from President Trump and how we can unlock the full potential of the Canadian economy.”

Trade uncertainty is not the only item on the agenda.

The premiers are also expected to discuss energy security, public safety concerns such as bail reform, emergency management during wildfire season, as well as immigration and health care.

In addition, following Carney’s summit on the Major Projects Act and his plans to set up an office by Labor Day, the premiers will meet with leaders of Indigenous national organizations “for focused discussions on economic development, economic reconciliation and other key priorities.”

“I think they’re all moving in the same direction and they need to continue to do so,” McNeil said.

“However, it will be important for them to send a signal to the Canadian economy that they are continuing to make progress, not just on opening the borders but also on what these national projects will look like and can each province have a piece of these projects?”

The talks will conclude on Wednesday, with a final news conference scheduled for that afternoon.

While the leaders are in town, local residents have been told to expect increased traffic delays and security.

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