Trump’s threats: “We will get through this,” assures Quebec Premier Legault

By Caroline Plante, The Canadian Press

The Legault government assures that it will protect Quebecers “at all costs” in the face of threats from American President Donald Trump to impose 25 per cent tariffs on Canadian imports on Feb. 1.

This is the message that Prime Minister François Legault delivered on Tuesday, at the opening of his political party’s pre-sessional caucus, which is being held in Saint-Sauveur, in the Laurentians.

According to his calculations, Quebec risks losing 100,000 jobs.

“We will get through this,” declared Premier François Legault on Tuesday at the opening of his party’s pre-sessional caucus being held in Saint-Sauveur, in the Laurentians.

He acknowledged in his short speech that the year 2025 was starting “a little bit stiff.”

Earlier, in a press scrum, Quebec Finance Minister, Eric Girard, said that the “role of the government” will be to “provide liquidity” to businesses affected by the imposition of tariffs.

Both men compared the situation to that experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Girard acknowledged that he may be forced to postpone the return to a balanced budget planned for 2029-2030. 

“Presenting a plan to return to a balanced budget is an obligation under the law, so we will definitely do it. (…) The question is: ‘Will we be able to execute it if there is a force majeure?'” said Girard.

Meeting in Orford, in the Eastern Townships, the Liberals promptly accused CAQ government of running “deficit after deficit.” Quebec is currently struggling with a record deficit of $11 billion.

“François Legault is very adept at finding defeats to constantly push back the return to a balanced budget,” noted the interim leader of the PLQ, Marc Tanguay.

When asked about the amount he was prepared to extend to businesses, Girard recalled that his government had put $2 billion of public money on the table during COVID-19.

“But what we saw is that several companies did not need help, (…) so the amount that was disbursed was ultimately much lower than expected,” he explained in English.

The imposition of tariffs would be “very damaging” for the forestry industry, declared the minister responsible, Maïté Blanchette Vézina, in a press scrum on Tuesday morning. 

For now, Canada is facing “threats” and not “facts,” Girard said.

Work at the National Assembly resumes on Jan. 28.

–This report by La Presse Canadienne was translated by CityNews

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