Federal/provinical Government: 1) Carney says ‘everything’s on the table’ for tariff retaliation against United States; 2)Premiers tout unity ahead of P.E.I. talks with Carney, ‘bullish’ on U.S. trade deal; 3)Carney says he and Trump agreed to ramp up trade talks after latest tariff threat; 4)Ford says Canada can ‘dismantle’ U.S. ahead of meeting between Carney and premiers

1) Carney says ‘everything’s on the table’ for tariff retaliation against United States

Courtesy Barrie360.com and Canadian Press

By Eli Ridder, July 23, 2026

Prime Minister Mark Carney says “everything’s on the table” if Canada can’t secure a deal to avoid a dramatic escalation in U.S. tariffs planned for next month.

Carney was asked Thursday what measures his government is considering in response to U.S. President Donald Trump’s threat to impose 50 per cent tariffs on a variety of Canadian goods.

While the prime minister said Canada has a “full range” of options, he refused to identify specific measures Ottawa could take in retaliation if Trump’s new tariffs come into force.

“It would be counterproductive at this stage to respond in advance. But it’s important to know what your options are, to have worked it through,” Carney said.

Carney didn’t rule out reaching a broad trade agreement with Washington before the Aug. 19 deadline and acknowledged the tariff threat is another pressure tactic by the White House.

He said the “breadth of engagement” among U.S. trade officials this week has opened up an opportunity to advance trade talks.

Trump administration officials have said the tariffs announced Monday were a response to provincial bans on U.S. liquor, Canada’s supply-managed dairy system and quotas on certain U.S. vehicles.

Later Thursday, the Trump administration also announced it is hitting dozens of countries, including Canada, with tariffs citing forced labour in supply chains.

Canada, Mexico and the United Kingdom are among the countries getting hit with a 10 per cent tariff, while other nations are seeing a 12.5 per cent levy. The new tariffs replace global 10 per cent tariffs set to expire first thing Friday morning.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford has repeatedly suggested leveraging his province’s exports to the U.S. to inflict economic pain in response to the tariffs.

Ford called for tit-for-tat tariffs on Tuesday and suggested the provinces could “dismantle the U.S. if we wanted to” by exerting pressure through energy exports.

British Columbia Premier David Eby later told reporters his province is willing to help pressure the U.S. into a fair trade agreement.

“If you need cards to get the agreement that we need on softwood lumber, to get the agreement that we need on growing prosperity for Americans and for Canadians again … then British Columbia will be there,” Eby said.

Premier Susan Holt of New Brunswick also has signalled she’s open to using her province’s energy sales to northeastern states to apply pressure in the trade war with the U.S. Others are not as eager.

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith and Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe have so far drawn a hard line against using their province’s cross-border exports in negotiation tactics.

Smith said she doesn’t want to negotiate by “promising to punch someone in the nose.” Instead, she said, Canadian leaders should be promoting a “win-win” deal for both Ottawa and Washington.

She warned the U.S. could cut off oil and natural gas exports to Ontario and Quebec if Canada engages in a skirmish over energy.

“You have to be very careful not to put things on the table that you’re not prepared to do, and I’m going to try to prevent Canada from making a very dumb decision of putting energy on the table,” Smith said.

Alberta and Saskatchewan are the only provinces to allow U.S. liquor back on the shelves following the introduction of tariffs on Canadian goods last year.

An analysis by University of Calgary economics professor Trevor Tombe found Alberta and Saskatchewan would only see roughly one per cent of their total exports affected by the latest U.S. tariff list.

Premier Moe said Wednesday he’s “positive and bullish” on Canada’s chances of reaching an agreement over the next few weeks.

“All we can do is make every effort … to support our federal government and support those that are sitting at the bargaining table.”

Carney admitted there are different perspectives among the provincial leaders but said “we are united in direction and objective and purpose and seriousness about the response.”

While Trump’s latest sanctions dominated the premiers meeting in P.E.I., the group of 13 leaders also brought up other topics ranging from health care funding to energy co-operation.

Carney said he backed a new agreement signed by New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and P.E.I. on Thursday to work together on their future electricity needs as the country looks to bolster its energy security.

The Maritime provinces agreed to makea regional road map for electricity transmission by next spring and consider creating an independent electricity system operator to manage power delivery in the region.

The federal government also announced $5.9 million tokick-startplanning and technical work on building a pair of new undersea power cables from New Brunswick to P.E.I.

And on Tuesday, as part of an ongoing effort to remove internal trade barriers to boost the country’s domestic economy, nine of the premiers signed a new direct-to-consumer alcohol sales agreement.

The deal changed provincial rules to allow brewers and distillers to sell alcohol directly to consumers regardless of jurisdiction.

— With files from Craig Lord in Ottawa and Wolfgang Depner in Victoria.

2)Premiers tout unity ahead of P.E.I. talks with Carney, ‘bullish’ on U.S. trade deal

Courtesy Barrie360.com and Canadian Press

By Eli Ridder, July 22, 2026

Premiers said they remain a united Team Canada against a common adversary in the U.S. as they wrapped up talks Wednesday ahead of a face-to-face meeting with Prime Minister Mark Carney.

All 13 provincial and territorial leaders, who were gathering for an annual summer meeting, also called on the federal government to boost its share of health care funding and back major projects that can spur their economies.

The premiers conference in Charlottetown, P.E.I., was upended after U.S. President Donald Trump signed orders to increase tariffs by 50 per cent on a variety of goods ranging from hockey sticks to honey to cement.

The U.S. says the tariffs, to be applied Aug. 19 and without exemptions, are in response to provincial bans on U.S. liquor, Canada’s supply-managed dairy system and quotas on certain U.S. vehicles.

P.E.I. Premier Rob Lantz, who was hosting the Council of the Federation conference, said there’s a “new level of urgency” for premiers when they meet with Carney for formal talks Thursday.

“We’re looking forward to sharing our priorities … and working with the prime minister to ensure Canadians see a strong, united approach as we focus on protecting workers, farmers, fishers, businesses and all Canadians,” Lantz told reporters.

While Trump’s threat of more economic pressure on Canada have loomed large over the three-day meeting, the premiers spent hours in roundtable deliberations Wednesday to work out shared domestic priorities.

The premiers requested Ottawa renew health transfer agreements with the provinces and territories that will start expiring next year and commit to increasing the share of health care funding by five per cent annually starting in April 2028.

Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew said maintaining universal access to a working health care system is a crucial part of creating a strong and independent Canada.

“There can be no bigger nation-building project than building up this nation’s people,” Kinew told reporters after talks between the premiers wrapped up Wednesday.

He said improving health care is not just about figures and percentages but taking care of Canada’s older adults who help build the country.

“Team Canada is not just united up against threats to our economy outside of our borders, I’m very happy that this team is united about taking care of people inside our borders, as well.”

Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston added that “healthy people drive healthy economies.”

As well, the group of leaders called on the federal government to continue its efforts to accelerate permit approvals for large projects such as pipelines and critical mineral extraction sites.

Federal investments in energy security was also top of mind.

Lantz called on federal support for new underwater transmission cables from the Canadian mainland to Prince Edward Island so his province could avoid future blackouts as energy needs increase.

Meanwhile, New Brunswick Premier Susan Holt said Canada can leverage her province’s energy exports to the U.S. for Canada’s benefit.

“We want to see all of those connections, all of those regional partnerships that take our assets and energy and offer them up to strengthen Canada’s economy,” Holt said.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford agreed with using the country’s exports to apply pressure on the United States.

“Everything is on the table, we can’t keep rolling over for Donald Trump,” Ford said.

“That’s what I believe in, standing up strong — negotiate through strength. You don’t negotiate through weakness, especially with President Trump.”

Not all the leaders agree with that approach.

Alberta’s Danielle Smith and Saskatchewan’s Scott Moe have rejected the idea of cutting off provincial energy and potash exports in retaliation to U.S. levies.

Meanwhile, British Columbia Premier David Eby expressed frustration at U.S. levies that impact some Canadian industries and leave others untouched, saying the U.S. needs to “decide what they want.”

“Do they want a strong partner in Canada, where we work together, or are they keen to go at it alone?”

Many of the premiers called on Carney and his chief U.S. trade negotiator Dominic LeBlanc to intensify efforts to resolve the ongoing trade war with the U.S. and avoid the planned escalation next month.

Moe of Saskatchewan said he’s “positive and bullish” that Canada can find an agreement over the next few weeks.

“All we can do is make every effort … to support our federal government and support those that are sitting at the bargaining table,” said Moe.

He added a renewal of the Canada-U.S.-Mexico trade agreement would be good for both Canadians and Americans.

Smith, who acknowledged most Alberta goods currently cross the U.S. border tariff-free, said the next few weeks, before Trump’s new levies come into effect, is a window of opportunity to work out a trade deal.

“I hope that we can get all of the outstanding issues on the table,” she added.

The premiers were scheduled to have dinner with the prime minister Wednesday evening before formal talks between the first minister get underway the following morning.

Internal trade barriers has also been a major topic of conversation this week, and nine premiers announced a deal on Tuesday to allow barrier-free direct-to-consumer alcohol sales in their jurisdictions.

3)Carney says he and Trump agreed to ramp up trade talks after latest tariff threat

Courtesy Barrie360.com and Canadian Press

By Canadian Press Staff,

Prime Minister Mark Carney said he spoke with U.S. President Donald Trump Tuesday morning and they agreed to intensify negotiations on the Canada-U.S.-Mexico Agreement on trade in the coming weeks.

The discussion between the leaders came the day after Trump again threatened Canada with punishing tariffs.

“As always, Canadians — governments, business, labour — will stand together to build Canada strong and to have a trading relationship with our North American partners that benefits everyone,” Carney said in Ottawa on Tuesday.

The U.S. announced late Monday a plan to impose a 50 per cent tariff on multiple Canadian goods, ranging from honey to hockey sticks, starting in 30 days.

American officials said the new levies are a response to provincial bans on U.S. alcohol, Canada’s supply managed dairy system and quotas on American cars.

Carney said Canada-U.S. Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc plans to convene the advisory council he chairs on Tuesday afternoon.

The prime minister said Canada has made a series of comprehensive and detailed proposals on modernizing the Canada-U.S.-Mexico-Agreement on trade, better known as CUSMA, in response to the Trump administration’s trade strategy.

The Trump administration said earlier in July that it would not be renewing the trade agreement. That decision triggers rolling annual reviews for up to 10 years, at which point CUSMA would expire unless all parties agree to an extension.

Trump on Tuesday told reporters in the Oval Office that he loves the “people of Canada” but claimed the country needs the United States to survive.

“Canada’s been very, very tough on us over the years, for many years, and no other president’s done anything about it,” Trump said.

Trump added that the new tariffs are separate from his threats to hit Canada with additional levies due to wildfire smoke. He repeated his claim that Canada is not managing its forests properly.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 21, 2026.

— By Kelly Geraldine Malone in Washington

4)Ford says Canada can ‘dismantle’ U.S. ahead of meeting between Carney and premiers

Courtesy Barrie360.com and Canadian Press

By Eli Ridder, July 21, 2026

Prime Minister Mark Carney and the country’s premiers are huddling for a virtual Team Canada meeting Tuesday afternoon after U.S. President Donald Trump threatened a dramatic increase in tariffs on some Canadian goods.

P.E.I. Premier Rob Lantz, who is hosting his counterparts for an annual leaders meeting, said Carney was added to Tuesday’s agenda after Trump signed orders to increase levies by 50 per cent on a variety of goods ranging from hockey sticks to honey to cement.

Senior White House officials said the tariffs, to be applied within 30 days, are in response to provincial bans on U.S. liquor, Canada’s supply managed dairy system and quotas on certain U.S. vehicles.

The new tariffs will not apply to energy, potash, fish or other goods already facing separate sector-specific tariffs, the official said.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford called on Canada to hit the U.S. back with tit-for-tat tariffs if there’s no resolution by Trump’s deadline, warning there would be a $28-billion impact to Canada if the levies go ahead.

“We are an energy powerhouse and we can dismantle the U.S. if we wanted to, if we all work together,” Ford told reporters early Tuesday afternoon before a meeting with Indigenous leaders.

“No matter if it’s the electricity … the potash, the oil — we’re their No. 1 customer in the world. They need to feel the pain rather than us constantly feeling the pain.”

Ford also said he wants to see more support from the other provinces when it comes to standing up to Trump’s tariffs.

“It can’t always be Ontario, it has to be a Team Canada approach, and that’s my message to my premier friends: that we have to stay united.”

Although she said she wanted to review details, Quebec Premier Christine Fréchette says the new tariff threats are concerning. She also noted that she believes the current protections for the dairy industry are not negotiable.

“I will work tirelessly to protect businesses, protect workers and protect Quebec’s economy,” she said.

Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe urged Dominic LeBlanc, the minister in charge of U.S.-Canada trade, and his team to “camp out” in Washington, D.C., until CUSMA is renewed. He said Ottawa and Washington need to drop the rhetoric and get to the negotiating table.

British Columbia Premier David Eby said Trump’s new tariffs will harm his province’s economy but added “there is not a chance in hell” he will allow U.S. alcohol back in B.C. liquor stores.

Provinces removing American alcohol from store shelves was a countermeasure to existing U.S. tariffs and the White House has flagged it as a trade irritant. Saskatchewan and Alberta have returned American booze to store shelves.

Lantz said the Council of the Federation meeting hasn’t been derailed by Trump’s new threats as trade was already high on the agenda this week.

Northwest Territories Premier R.J. Simpson said his counterparts have different ideas for how to deal with the United States, however, they are still able to work together.

“We can come together and have discussions about those ideas. Ever since I’ve been at this table, I’ve been amazed at the solidarity,” Simpson said.

“There are differences of opinions but every time we’re in that room, we’re all pulling in the same direction.”

Before news of Trump’s new tariff threat, the U.S. president was already top of mind for Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew.

Kinew stressed the need “to ensure that the national unity against the Trump threat is maintained” while making sure provinces “have the resources for health care and education at the same time.”

Trump’s levies on Canadian goods have continued to affect every Canadian province, including Ontario’s steel, fabrication in Alberta and aluminum production and forestry industries in British Columbia, Quebec and Atlantic Canada.

While Ottawa has responded with reciprocal tariffs, emergency funds and buy Canadian policies, premiers have called on Carney to prioritize a strong outcome on CUSMA.

Eby said that he would tell Carney that no trade deal with the U.S. is better than a bad one.

“It has been proven over time, that Canada’s approach has been the right one, which is to resist making a bad deal for the purposes of getting a deal done quickly,” Eby said in an interview ahead of meeting his counterparts.

While the premiers may have common struggles and goals, there are also divisions within the group of 13. Chief among them could be Alberta Premier Danielle Smith’s approach to separatism forces in her province.

“The separatism conversation continues in that province, and there are strong divisions between the premiers about how Premier Smith is handling that,” Eby said.

— With files from Ian Bickis in Winnipeg, Wolfgang Depner in Victoria and Elissa Mendes and Allison Jones in Toronto.