
Wednesday February 5, 2025 | LANGFORD, BC [Last update 10:55 am]
by Mary P Brooke | Island Social Trends
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will today hold another virtual meeting with provincial and territorial premiers. This is now a weekly practice given the threat of tariffs by the United States.
A Canada-US summit will be held in Toronto this Friday, February 7, it was announced this morning by the prime minister.
All Premiers across Canada — each in their own way to protect the interests of their jurisdictions — have been supportive of the Team Canada approach regarding protection of this country against the threat of tariffs by the United States.
The topic of inter-provincial trade will be consistent as things move forward. Breaking down trade barriers between provinces is about making Canada less vulnerable to depending on the US as a consistent trade partners.
Many regulations (technical and regulatory) have been set up over the years to prevent inter-provincial trade but this protectionist approach has reduced competition and innovation.
Tariff trends this week:
Tariffs were to be imposed by the US on products shipped from Canada into the US was to have taken effect at 12:01 am February 4, 2025. But that was suspended on the day before following two conversations — just a few hours apart — between Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and US President Donald Trump.
Meanwhile, jurisdictions across the country are beginning to make rather spontaneous commitments to Canada-first procurement and to begin shifting whatever processes they can toward self-reliance or at least less dependence on business with the United States going forward.
Locally that includes the City of Langford and the District of Saanich, following in the footsteps of the Province led by Premier David Eby who is steadfast in turning British Columbia in new economic directions as quickly as possible.
People across the country seem to have suddenly found themselves in camaraderie with fellow Canadians in adopting a “Canada-first” stance when making retail and household purchases.
Mostly this is seen as making Canada-first retail choices but it also indicates a shift in mentality that will support a growing sense of being distinctly Canadian instead of always comparing to or deferring to a perceived dominance of the American way.
Jobs, small business and infrastructure projects would be impacted by any tariffs that may come after the stated 30-day reprieve that Trump indicated on February 3.
===== RELATED:
- Langford council commits to Canada-first procurement & local business support (February 4, 2025)
- NDP pushes for Build Canadian, Buy Canadian (February 4, 2025)
- BC retaliatory tariffs are suspended for now but procurement shift continues (February 3, 2025)
- US tariffs now postponed for about 30 days to March 2025 (February 3, 2025)
- Prime Minister Justin Trudeau addresses Canadians about US tariffs (February 1, 2025)
- Feb 1 tariff announcement by US President Trump (February 1, 2025)
- NEWS SECTIONS: CANADA-USA | TARIFFS & TRADE