Roughriders sign three-time All-CFLer Mike Rose
13h ago
Rose played in all 18 games last season for Calgary Stampeders.
Canada has delivered a strong response to the tariffs imposed on Canada by U.S. President Donald Trump on Saturday.
The U.S. tariffs will take effect on Tuesday and the Trump administration has said they would be in place until the fentanyl and immigration issues are resolved.
Read more:
- Federal government posts $22.7-billion deficit between April and November
- Chrystia Freeland says Canada should target Elon Musk’s Tesla in a tariff fight
- Liberal ministers make last-ditch pitch in D.C. to stop Trump tariffs
The Canadian federal response to the tariffs, initially scheduled for 5 p.m. was delayed until 7:30 p.m. and then 8 p.m. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau eventually took to the podium just after 8:15 p.m.
Trudeau announced Canada’s response would be the placement of 25-per-cent tariffs against $155 billion of American goods.
“This will include immediate tariffs on $30 billion worth of goods as of Tuesday, followed by further tariffs on $125 billion worth of American products in 21 days’ time to allow Canadian companies and supply chains to find alternatives,” he said.
Trudeau said the Canadian tariffs response would also be far reaching, including “everyday items such as American beer, wine and bourbon, fruits and fruit juices, including orange juice, along with vegetables, perfume, clothing and shoes.”
“It will include major consumer products like household appliances, furniture and sports equipment and materials like lumber and plastics, along with much, much more.
“And as part of our response, we are considering with the provinces and territories several non-tariff measures, including some relating to critical minerals, energy procurement and other partnerships,” he said.
Trudeau urged Canadians that this was also the “time to choose Canada.”
“There are many ways for you to do your part. It might mean checking the labels at the supermarket and picking Canadian made products. It might mean opting for Canadian rye over Kentucky bourbon, or foregoing Florida orange juice altogether,” Trudeau said.
“It might mean changing your summer vacation plans to stay here in Canada and explore the many national and provincial parks, historical sites and tourist destinations our great country has to offer.”
In his address, Trudeau also attempted to reassure Canadians by saying, “we are all in this together”.
“The coming weeks will be difficult for Canadians, and they’ll be difficult for Americans,” Trudeau said.
“The level of cooperation, the level of effective partnerships between our two countries that have been established over decades and generations means that this trade action by the Americans and our response is going to have real consequences for people, for workers on both sides of our border,” he said.
“We don’t want to be here. We didn’t ask for this, but we will not back down in standing up, both for Canadians and for the incredible, successful relationship and partnership between Canada and the United States.”
Trudeau added that “no one part of the country should be carrying a heavier burden than any other.”
“Any conversations around further measures, particularly involving one industry or one region of the country more than another, is something that we’re going to do carefully and thoughtfully and with the full partnership of regional leaders, provincial premiers, businesses.”
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 1, 2025
As previously signalled, the U.S. tariffs would be 25 per cent across the board with an exception on energy which will be 10 per cent.
Trudeau said he had been unable to reach Trump to talk about the issue on Saturday.
When asked if he was going to recall parliament and end prorogation to address the tariffs, Trudeau said that the government already had the tools to deal with the issue.
Trudeau earlier confirmed the U.S. tariffs on social media ahead of addressing the nation.
The United States has confirmed that it intends to impose 25% tariffs on most Canadian goods, with 10% tariffs on energy, starting February 4.
I’ve met with the Premiers and our Cabinet today, and I’ll be speaking with President Sheinbaum of Mexico shortly.
We did…— Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) February 2, 2025
There is also an indication that the U.S will counter any retaliatory tarifffs.
“The White House says the order has a retaliation clause, which would increase tariffs in case of any retaliation,” CTV said.
“If Canada responds to these tariffs, Donald Trump has said that there will be a counter to the counter that Canada has to these Trump tariffs.”
Scott Moe makes statement on social media
Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe’s last-minute appeal to Trump on Friday appears to have fallen on deaf ears.
“We would ask the Trump administration to not put those tariffs on, and we would also ask our federal government to address the priorities that President Trump has raised,” Moe told reporters at the legislature.
“When you break down what has really been articulated as a priority for the President (Trump), it is stopping fentanyl, stopping illegal migrants and our NATO commitment,” Moe said
He also said he thought many Canadians would agree with Trump on fentanyl.
“it’s not a drug at all. It’s poison,” he said. “It’s killing our families and our friends and our community members across this across the nation.”
Moe made a statement on social media on Saturday, before the federal response was announced.
The decision by President Trump to impose tariffs on all Canadian products is disappointing and will damage both our countries' economies, workers and consumers.
We agree we that need to have strong secure borders.
The US has been clear in this priority.
Saskatchewan has been… pic.twitter.com/HbvTxv38ff
— Scott Moe (@PremierScottMoe) February 2, 2025
Sask. NDP Leader Carla Beck once again called for an emergency return of the legislature to mount an immediate response to protect people’s jobs and livelihoods.
Our number one focus is protecting Saskatchewan jobs and industries.
We’re dealing with a U.S. President that is determined to bring in these tariffs regardless of the impacts to workers or wallets on either side of the border.
This is a time to come together, put politics… pic.twitter.com/g6IyxOPqGq
— Carla Beck (@CarlaBeckSK) February 1, 2025
Sask. NDP Leader Carla Beck once again called for an emergency return of the legislature to mount an immediate response to protect people’s jobs and livelihoods.
“I want the people of Saskatchewan to know that we hear their concerns and we’re working day and night to put a stop to a no-win trade war,” Beck said in a news release on Saturday. “These tariffs and incoming retaliatory measures will increase the cost of food, energy, and fuel on both sides of the border.
“Our number one focus is protecting Saskatchewan jobs and industries.
“This is a time to come together, put politics aside, and mount a unified response that will protect Saskatchewan livelihoods. We’re ready to do that work, whatever it takes – the people of Saskatchewan expect nothing less and our economic future is far too important,” she said.
We must put CANADA FIRST.
That is why Common Sense Conservatives condemn President Trump’s massive, unjust and unjustified tariffs on Canada’s already weak economy. Canada is the United States’ closest neighbour, greatest ally and best friend. We share the longest undefended…— Pierre Poilievre (@PierrePoilievre) February 1, 2025
Conservative Party Leader Pierre Poilievre released a statement on X after Trump announced he was putting tariffs into effect.
Poilievre started the statement off by saying “we must put Canada first.”
“The Liberals must put aside their partisan interests and recall Parliament now to pass a Canada First Plan,” he said.
Poilievre said that plan should include retaliatory dollar-for-dollar tariffs carefully aimed at maximizing impact on American companies while minimizing impact on Canadian consumers.
He also said that tariff revenues should go toward affected workers and businesses.
Earlier Friday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Canada is ready to deliver a “purposeful, forceful but reasonable immediate” response to the tariffs. The federal government has said it has multiple options for retaliatory tariffs ready to deploy, depending on what Trump ultimately does.
Moe also reiterated on Friday previous comments that he thought retaliatory tariffs would be counter-productive.
Terry Duguid, federal Minister for Prairies Economic Development Canada, said last week the country is prepared for various scenarios of tariffs from Trump.
“We’ve been working on these for months, ever since Trump was was re-elected,” Duguid said.
“We will be ready. We will be strong. We will stand up for the prairies in Canada, and I’m very confident that the ministers who are front and center in this are very prepared.”
Duguid said he can’t speak to the tariffs plan until they are actually put in place, but said the federal government is prepared for anything.
“Everything is on the table,” he said. “We’re not going to reveal our hand until we do hear something final … We see the goal-posts moving every day. So I think we have to be calm and patient, but we have to be ready. And I think we are.”
Moe said the Saskatchewan government had been in meetings with various industry leaders in the agriculture, fertilizer, mining and oil and gas industries on “maybe diverting some of those products to other markets” if tariffs are imposed.
“We are an exporting province, certainly, and we are the highest exporting province of any in Canada, so we are concerned,” Moe said.
But … in Saskatchewan we are the least dependent province on our exports to the United States. That being said, they’re our largest trading partner, our most important trading partner and an ally so this scenario that we find ourselves in is both concerning and challenging.”
Read more: