Home Business & Economy Tariffs & Trade Canada’s preliminary response to Trump’s inauguration statements

Canada’s preliminary response to Trump’s inauguration statements

Canada was not mentioned in Trump's speech today.

dominic leblanc, david mcGuinty, Melanie Joly
Responding to US President Trump's inaugural speech (from left): Finance Minister and Minister of Governmental Affairs Dominic LeBlanc, Public Safety Minister David McGuinty, and Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly, on Jan 20, 2025. [IST composite]
CANADA-USA NEWS & ANALYSIS

Monday January 20, 2025 | MONTEBELLO, QU [Posted at 1:20 pm]

by Mary P Brooke | Island Social Trends


This morning, Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau issued a statement on the inauguration of Donald J. Trump as President of the United States of America.

Trump’s America-first stance is strong. In his inaugural speech Trump said he will start by cracking down on southern border issues with Mexico.

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47th President of the United States Donald J Trump delivers his inauguration speech on Jan 20, 2025 in the US Capitol Rotunda in Washington, DC. [livestream]

Canada was not mentioned in Trump’s speech and neither was Greenland — two countries that have resources that Trump has his eye on for manufacturing and industry. But there was a statement that a department of “government efficiency” will be launched.

Canadian officials appear to feel confident in their plan. Trudeau emphasizes “the world’s most successful economic partnership” in his statement.

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Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s statement on the Inauguration of Donald Trump as the 47th US President

“On behalf of the Government of Canada, I extend my congratulations to Donald J. Trump on his inauguration as President of the United States of America for a second term.

“Canada and the United States have the world’s most successful economic partnership. We are each other’s largest trade partners, with a relationship that creates millions of jobs, attracts billions in investment into the continent, and keeps our people safe.

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Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Premiers at a press conference about dealing with US tariffs, in Ottawa on Jan 15, 2025. [livestream]

“Canada is strengthening this mutually beneficial relationship. We’re making massive investments to bolster cross-border trade, reinforce our supply chains, and create jobs on both sides of the border.

“We are strongest when we work together, and I look forward to working with President Trump, his administration, members of the United States Congress, and officials at the state and local levels to deliver prosperity for our peoples – while protecting and defending the interests of Canadians.”

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Comments ahead of cabinet retreat today:

Before heading into a Liberal cabinet retreat this afternoon i Montebello (across from Ottawa), three cabinet ministers addressed media.

dominic leblanc, david mcGuinty, Melanie Joly
Responding to US President Trump’s inaugural speech (from left): Finance Minister and Minister of Governmental Affairs Dominic LeBlanc, Public Safety Minister David McGuinty, and Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly, on Jan 20, 2025. [IST composite]

Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly has said this morning from Ottawa that she will be going back to Washington soon to protect Canada’s interests. “We need to continue to be Team Canada,” she said her remarks to media today. She points out that the US Administration is still finalizing its transition.

“First it was all about the border and we did the job on the border,” said Joly today with regard to no mention of tariffs by Trump against Canada today.

“We’ll continue to make sure that we’re ready,” said Joly.

Finance Minister and Intergovernmental Affairs Minister Dominic LeBlanc says the Canadian government has the two economies and the cost of living in both countries in mind, as well as the secure access to energy and critical ministers. He says the cabinet will “remain on the job to protect the Canadian economy”.

David McGinty the level of cooperation between border officials remains very close.

Former ambassador weighs in:

Canada’s former ambassador David MacNaughton told CBC today that Canada has to create something that Donald Trump can say he won, because Trump doesn’t like ‘win-win’.

Security spending and arrangements need to be enhanced, particularly in the Arctic, MacNaughton said today.

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Political news and analysis at IslandSocialTrends.ca .

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