Tariff threats: Quebec continues to prepare, according to Legault

By Caroline Plante, The Canadian Press

Quebec Premier François Legault is not declaring victory right away, even though the new Trump administration in the United States will not impose tariffs on Canadian imports, for now.

For several weeks, U.S. President Donald Trump has been threatening to impose 25 per cent tariffs on products imported from Canada. According to the American daily The Wall Street Journal, Trump would instead choose to launch an investigation into the so-called unfair trade practices of Canada, Mexico and China.

While in Prévost, in the Laurentians, on Monday for a pre-sessional caucus of the Coalition avenir Québec (CAQ), Legault said that Quebec was continuing to prepare for the eventual imposition of tariffs.

He insisted that the government was not ruling out any possibility at this point. According to Legault, Quebec could lose up to 100,000 jobs in the face of such tariffs.

He mentioned the possibility of responding with import tariffs, but also export tariffs, particularly in the energy sector.

“The idea is to protect Quebecers (…) so if there are American tariffs, we will be ready for retaliation that will still protect Quebecers,” he explained.

Legault indicated that the government would be ready to help businesses, despite the $11 billion hole in Quebec’s budget.

“When businesses, citizens are hit, it is the government’s role to help them. (…) Will there be tariffs? Our first choice is that there be no tariffs.”

Legault made these comments during a press conference in Prévost, where he announced the construction of a new high school in the city.

The CAQ caucus meeting, which will take place Tuesday and Wednesday in Saint-Sauveur, is also likely to be dominated by the new president’s arrival in office.

François Legault has already indicated that he plans to travel to Washington twice between now and April.

In an open letter he published in the American media outlet “The Hill” last Wednesday, the Premier of Quebec warned that Trump’s threat could backfire on the Americans.

Legault pointed out that Quebec exports aluminum to the United States, as well as supplies for military aviation — products that the country will not be able to produce itself in the short and medium term, he said.

Thus, with tariffs, Americans will end up paying more for these products, according to him.

Later, while attending a Council of the Federation meeting, Legault sided with his counterparts, saying that cutting off energy to the United States as a form of retaliation should not be ruled out.

After that meeting, 12 provincial and territorial premiers issued a statement pledging to present a united front to their American counterparts.

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith stood alone, refusing to sign the statement.

She explained on social media that she could not support a “Team Canada” approach if energy exports could be part of the federal government’s response.

On Monday, François Legault said he had intervened in favour of a compromise to include Alberta in the common front.

“If a province, like Alberta, were to make efforts that cost that province more than all the provinces, there should be compensation from the federal government,” he said.

“The idea is to make Canada win, but not necessarily to make one province pay more than another. So, there must be some fairness,” he added.

–This report by La Presse Canadienne was translated by CityNews

Top Stories

Top Stories

Most Watched Today