Friday November 8, 2024 | VANCOUVER, BC [Posted at 3:34 pm \ Updated November 10, 2024]
[Updated on November 9, 2024]
by Mary P Brooke | Island Social Trends
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is in Vancouver today Friday November 8.
Trudeau said today that he “looks forward to a more competitive North America and working with Donald Trump as we did years ago,” in response to a media question about the US government to soon be led by newly-elected USA President(-elect) Trump.
The US Presidential election was on November 5, and Trump will be sworn in on January 20, 2025.
Trudeau was first elected in 2015 and so was prime minister during the time that Trump was the 45th president of the United States (2016-2020); Trump will now be the 47th president of the United States.
Trudeau is still Canada’s prime minister, going into his 10th year; the next federal election is currently scheduled for October 20, 2025.
Tariffs:
Trudeau says he has demonstrated that “unfair competition around the world is something that we’re willing to stand up for”.
“We’ve brought in tariffs on Chinese-made electric vehicles. We brought in 25% tariffs on steel and aluminum to protect steel and aluminum workers from Chinese over-capacity. These are things that we are doing to protect our market, protect Canadian jobs, but also do it in alignment with the United States.”
Interconnectedness:
“There’s an awful lot that Canada and the United States are going to be able to do together to successfully compete with the world and as we demonstrated last time with the renegotiation of NAFTA, the interconnectedness between the supply chains in Canada and the United States, the reliableness of Canada as a partner to so many and so much of the Amercian economy, means that tariffs or thickening of the border between Canada and the US will inevitably hurt American workers, American jobs as well,” said Trudeau today.
“We’re going to work together as we have before to make sure we’re competitive with the United States facing towards the world. I look forward to all these conversations we’re going to have about growing the North American economy in ways that work for everyone.”
Canada-US cabinet committee:
“We know that President Trump has made very very clear his emphasis on supporting American jobs and moving forward in ways that are going to benefit people in his country. And we know that there’s a way to make sure that’s done in partnership with Canada that’s going to benefit people on both sides of the border,” said Trudeau.
“We had challenges with the Biden administration on a number of issues like electric vehicles where we had to work very hard to make sure that we were included in the benefits of electric vehicles for the IRA.”
“We’ve had very deliberate and concerted approaches on the US as necessary. Right now, standing up once again the Canada-US committee that we’re ready to tackle some of the new challenges that no doubt the new American administration will put on the table for countries around the world, that Canada will be ready to handle,” said Trudeau today.
Business on both sides:
Trudeau said today that he wants to see the middle class succeed in both Canada and the USA.
“We are ready to work with them (Americans) in constructive ways to make sure that businesses on both sides are succeeding,” said Trudeau in his media session today.
Leading-edge sectors:
Trudeau pointed out that Canada is leading in battery manufacturing and has a lot to offer in the way of AI expertise and quantum computing. Innovative companies are coming to Canada from around the world, he said today.
Critical minerals, natural resources and rare earth elements are of interest to businesses that invest in Canada.
Housing announcement:
Today in Vancouver Trudeau made a housing announcement (separate link to come).
Meeting with BC Premier Eby:
Trudeau today met privately with recently re-elected BC Premier David Eby.
Economic impacts from a Trump-led US government are likely to impact Canada’s economy. Softwood lumber tariffs are important to the BC economy.
Fundraisers in Vancouver:
A Liberal Party fundraiser is being held tonight in Vancouver-Granville: An Evening with Anita Anand & Taleeb Noormohamed. Anand is president of the Treasury Board. She was the procurement minister during the COVID pandemic.
There is another Liberal fundraiser being held in Vancouver Centre on November 14.
Next stop Winnipeg:
Trudeau will attend and deliver remarks at the National Commemorative Ceremony for the Honourable Murray Sinclair in Winnipeg on Sunday November 10.
