Premiers and senior federal government figures look on as Prime Minister Justin Trudeau speaks at a press conference concluding a first ministers meeting, in Ottawa, on Jan. 15, 2025.Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press
Starting Tuesday, the United States will impose across-the-board tariffs of 25 per cent on Canadian goods and 10-per-cent tariffs on “energy resources.” The 25 per cent levy will also be placed on goods from Mexico, while Chinese goods will face an additional 10 per cent tariff. The Canadian government immediately announced retaliatory tariffs on many American products.
Here is how Canadian premiers reacted on Saturday.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford
Mr. Ford announced Sunday that starting Tuesday, Ontario would be removing American products from LCBO stores as well as from its catalogue so Ontario-based restaurants and retailers can’t order or restock U.S. products.
“Every year, LCBO sells nearly $1-billion worth of American wine, beer, spirits and seltzers. Not anymore,” Mr. Ford said in a statement, adding that people should buy Ontario- and Canadian-made products.
Mr. Ford told CNN on Saturday evening that Mr. Trump “underestimates the resilience, the strength of the Canadian people.”
Mr. Ford, who has been on American TV networks in recent weeks advocating against tariffs, also pleaded with the U.S. President to “not lump us in with Mexico and China. We’re your closest ally,” he said, expressing bewilderment at the immensity of the economic attack Mr. Trump had authorized.
“Why President Trump would want to attack his largest customer, per se, largest trading partner, closest ally, that this goes back to all the way back to 1867?” Mr. Ford asked, referring to battles both countries fought together throughout the past century.
“We lost soldiers standing up for our family,” he said, “and we consider the U.S. part of our family.”
Earlier in the day, Mr. Ford said the trade relationship between Canada and the U.S. “has made life better for millions of workers on both sides of the border” in the past decades and he repeated his calls for a strong response.
“Canada now has no choice but to hit back and hit back hard,” he said. “We need to maximize our points of leverage and use them to maximum effect,” Mr. Ford said. The Ontario Premier also called on the federal government to “pursue every legal route to challenge these unfair, unjustified and illegal tariffs.”
Mr. Ford warned that the coming weeks “will be incredibly difficult.” He said the tariffs will devastate Ontario’s economy and put 450,000 jobs at risk across every region and every sector of the province.
The Ontario Premier, who triggered an early election this past week, vowed to “invest tens of billions to retrain workers for new opportunities, retool companies for new customers, reshore supply chains and rebuild roads.”
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Quebec Premier François Legault
In a video statement posted on social media on Saturday evening, Quebec Premier François Legault said Mr. Trump’s tariffs will have a major impact on some of the province’s industries and could result in the loss of about 100,000 jobs in Quebec.
“This is going to have a major impact on the Canadian economy,” Mr. Legault said. “It could even change the face of the Canadian economy if it lasts for a while.”
Mr. Legault said the premiers were unanimous in supporting the federal government’s plan to impose 25 per cent tariffs on select American goods. He said he also asked Quebec’s treasury board to penalize U.S. companies bidding on public contracts.
“We must fight to protect our economy, to protect our jobs,” he said.
The Premier said hydroelectric and other infrastructure projects would be fast-tracked to create construction jobs and replace part of those eventually lost in the manufacturing sector. He said it would also be an opportunity for Quebec entrepreneurs to develop new products and enter new markets.
B.C. Premier David Eby
Mr. Eby said in video statement Saturday night that he had directed the BC Liquor Distribution Branch to immediately stop buying alcohol from what he described as “red states” and remove the most popular brands from shelves of government-owned BC Liquor Store outlets.
“We’re trying to send a message to specific decision makers,” he said.
Mr. Eby said he directed the province’s Crown corporations and health authorities to stop buying U.S. goods and services to buy Canadian instead. He added that he supports “a comprehensive, targeted” set of retaliatory tariffs against the U.S.
The B.C. Premier said Mr. Trump’s tariffs “are a complete betrayal of the historic bond between our countries.”
“It is a declaration of economic war against a trusted ally and friend,” Mr. Eby said, emphasizing the historical bond between the two countries and the economic harm that will result from the tariffs south of the border.
“Americans will find that their pasta is more expensive,” he said.
Mr. Eby said the province has identified 10 major projects that will be expedited, which he said would create more than 6,000 jobs in sectors including mining, renewable energy and natural gas.
Although B.C. is “the least trade-exposed province to the United States” because of its access to global markets, Mr. Eby said, the tariffs “will be profoundly damaging for B.C. families and businesses.” He said the province already planned missions to expand trade with countries in Asia and Europe.
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith
Ms. Smith, who has frequently clashed with Ottawa and other premiers about how Canada should respond, took credit for oil and gas being subject to a lower, 10 per cent tariff, which she said was partly due to her advocacy among U.S. officials.
The Premier said she was disappointed by the tariffs, stressing that they will hurt both Canadians and Americans. However, she stood firm in opposing any bans of Canadian exports or new levies on Canadian products headed for the United States. Ms. Smith refused to sign onto a memo from all premiers and Prime Minister last month because, she said, they would not rule out targeting oil exports.
She also repeated her call to do what Mr. Trump has demanded by appointing a border czar to co-ordinate policing against illegal migrants and drugs crossing the shared border, as well as increasing defence spending to achieve the NATO target of 2 per cent of GDP, which the country has consistently failed to reach.
“Alberta will also work collaboratively with the federal government and other provinces on a proportionate response to the imposed U.S. tariffs through the strategic use of Canadian import tariffs on U.S. goods that are more easily purchased from Canada and non-U.S. suppliers,” she said in a statement posted on social media. Ms. Smith called for funds raised from such tariffs to go to Canadians harmed by the U.S. duties.
She also urged Ottawa and other provinces to begin a process to fast-track the construction of new oil and gas pipelines and liquefied natural gas terminals to increase capacity and diversify markets.
Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston
Mr. Houston said the provincial liquor corporation will remove all alcohol from the United States from their shelves, effective Tuesday, as part of a response to tariffs announced by the U.S. President Donald Trump that Mr. Houston described as “unlawful.”
In a Saturday statement, Mr. Houston also said Nova Scotia will limit access to provincial procurement for American businesses.
“We will look for opportunities to cancel existing contracts and will maintain the option to reject bids outright because of President Trump’s unlawful tariffs,” Mr. Houston said.
Also, he said the cost of tolls at the Cobequid Pass – a 45-kilometre stretch of highway heavily used by out-of-province commercial trucks – will be doubled as of Monday.
“It is remarkable to find ourselves at odds with our best friend and neighbor,” Mr. Houston said in his statement. “It will take thoughtfulness and time, but we will get through this.”
New Brunswick Premier Susan Holt
Ms. Holt warned that the U.S. tariffs would “devastate” her province as well as negatively impact American workers, businesses and the economy.
“Our team will use every tool in our toolbox to defend and support New Brunswickers and put an end to these tariffs,” Ms. Holt said in a Saturday evening post on X.
However, she did not elaborate on specific measures.
“It’s now more important than ever to build up our economy, buy local, and get to work seizing the opportunities we have across New Brunswick and our country.”
Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Andrew Furey
Mr. Furey criticized the tariffs as “unprecedented taxes” on critical products provided by Canada.
In a post on X, Mr. Furey said U.S. products would be pulled from provincial liquor stores by Tuesday.
“I ask people here and around the world to buy responsibly, and support us in standing up to the American bully next door,” Mr. Furey said in his statement.
Prince Edward Island Premier Dennis King
Mr. King raised concerns about the impact of the U.S. tariffs in a Saturday statement, but he did not outline specific measures in response.
“We will not let these unfair trade barriers go unanswered,” Mr. King said in a statement. “We will work closely with the federal government and our provincial and territorial partners to push back against these tariffs and make it clear that Canadian businesses and workers cannot be treated unfairly.”
Mr. King, who convened a Saturday evening meeting of a provincial cabinet committee on U.S. relations, said the committee will be working with departments and stakeholders between now and Tuesday to ensure a strong response.
He noted that the tariffs “pose a serious risk” to Canadian industries , including those key to his province, specifically farming, fishing, manufacturing and exports.
Northwest Territories Premier R.J. Simpson
Mr. Simpson said his government is looking into countermeasures to the U.S. tariffs, including “reviewing our procurement policies to eliminate purchases from U.S. companies where possible and halting the Northwest Territories Liquor and Cannabis Commission’s purchase of American goods.”
Mr. Simpson said the territory would also encourage businesses and residents to buy Canadian products, promote domestic tourism in Canada and work on infrastructure projects and economic diversification efforts aimed at strengthening Canada’s economy.
Nunavut Premier P.J. Akeeagok
Mr. Akeeagok highlighted that Nunavut residents face the highest costs of living in Canada and said the tariffs would put more pressure on struggling families, as well as potentially worsening the housing crisis by making it harder to build homes.
He called for domestic investment in local economies and communities, pointing to Arctic’s natural resources such as critical minerals and fish.
“In a time of uncertainty, the Arctic can unlock new economic opportunities for our country,” he wrote in a statement.
With reports from Jeffrey Jones, Nathan VanderKlippe, Laura Stone and Ian Bailey