As Canada braces for escalating trade tensions with the United States, Prime Minister Mark Carney is calling for a united economic front and a bold push toward internal market integration. Speaking ahead of a high-level meeting with provincial and territorial premiers in Huntsville, Carney emphasized the urgent need for economic resilience and domestic unity in the face of U.S. protectionist policies.
“In a world where we can’t control everything, we can control how strong we make our own economy,” Carney told reporters. “We’re shifting from alliance to resilience, from division to unity. That starts with making it easier for Canadians to do business across this country.”
Carney’s remarks come as U.S. President Donald Trump doubles down on tariffs targeting Canadian exports, including lumber, steel, aluminum, and automotive parts. The prime minister stressed that Canada’s best response is to double down on strengthening internal trade and building new global partnerships.
“This will require direct support for impacted industries and a coordinated effort to diversify our trade,” Carney said. “We need to ensure that our businesses have options — both at home and abroad.”
One of Carney’s top priorities at the summit is to accelerate the reduction of internal trade barriers, a long-standing issue in Canada’s economic landscape. He applauded recent momentum among provinces signing their own interprovincial trade agreements and signaled federal support to complement those efforts.
“I want to acknowledge the progress that’s being made between provinces on free trade agreements. There’s been a surge in that activity recently, and it’s the right direction,” he said. “Canadians want easier access to goods and services across provincial borders. We’re finally listening.”
By empowering interprovincial trade, Carney argues, Canada can become less reliant on volatile global dynamics and more confident in its own economic ecosystem.
Carney’s message of resilience was underscored by Ontario Premier Doug Ford, who took a harder line in his remarks. Ford urged the federal government to hit back at U.S. tariffs with equal force.
“We need to match tariff for tariff, dollar for dollar,” Ford said. “President Trump only respects strength. If we show weakness, he’ll steamroll right over us.”
Ford’s stance echoes growing frustration among Canadian leaders over the unpredictability of U.S. trade actions and a desire for Ottawa to take a firmer position.
While the summit is expected to cover a wide range of topics — including housing, energy, and workforce mobility — the dominant thread remains economic sovereignty and safeguarding Canadian interests in an uncertain global climate.
“We have the tools and the talent. Now we need the will,” Carney said. “Canadians can be our own best customer. It’s time we acted like it.”
As the meetings continue, both the federal government and provincial leaders appear aligned on at least one point: Canada’s best defence against external threats lies in its ability to unite within.
