Ontario Premier Doug Ford and Prime Minister-designate Mark Carney came together for their first face-to-face meeting on Wednesday morning, ahead of Ford’s upcoming trip to Washington D.C. to address the ongoing trade issues with the U.S.
The breakfast meeting was held at Wally’s Grill in Etobicoke, located at 123 Rexdale Blvd., and was a chance for the two leaders to strategize on how to approach U.S. President Donald Trump and his administration regarding tariffs and free trade concerns.
“This morning, I met with Mark Carney, Canada’s incoming prime minister for a positive and productive discussion,” Ford wrote in a statement posted to X.
The premier emphasized the importance of holding ground against U.S. tariffs, writing that he and Carney agreed “on the need to stand firm and strong in the face of President Trump’s threats, including additional retaliatory tariffs in response to U.S. tariffs on steel and aluminum, which will raise costs for American businesses and families.”
This morning, I met with Mark Carney, Canada’s incoming prime minister for a positive and productive discussion. We agreed on the need to stand firm and strong in the face of President Trump’s threats, including additional retaliatory tariffs in response to U.S. tariffs on steel… pic.twitter.com/tIGK8W2FNJ
— Doug Ford (@fordnation) March 12, 2025
Speaking to reporters after a meeting with Hamilton steelworkers impacted by Trump’s steel and aluminum tariffs, Carney echoed the need for respect between the two countries. Trump has repeatedly referred to Canada as the “51st state” and referred to Justin Trudeau as “Governor” Trudeau.
“I’m ready to sit down with President Trump at the appropriate time under a position where there’s respect for Canadian sovereignty and we’re working for a common approach,” Carney said.
The ongoing trade dispute between Canada and the U.S. escalated when Trump’s administration imposed a 25 per cent tariff on Canadian steel and aluminum imports. In retaliation, Canada announced tariffs worth nearly $30 billion on U.S. goods.
Trump’s administration had also threatened to raise the tariffs to 50 per cent in response to Ontario placing a surcharge on electricity it exports to three U.S. states, however, Ford’s conversation with U.S. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick led to a reduction in these threats, and Ford was invited to Washington for further discussions.
Finance Minister Dominic LeBlanc, who will join Ford in Washington, expressed the importance of these “constructive” discussions. The high-stakes talks are set to continue as Ford and LeBlanc travel to Washington on Thursday for a meeting with Lutnick and other top officials.
During his meeting with Carney, Ford also shared his thoughts on the future of the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA).
“It’s the federal government that’s leading this, not myself. They are going to lead the negotiations. I’ll have a very loud voice … along with all the other premiers,” Ford said.
“Our message tomorrow is let’s stop this. It’s going to hurt both economies. American people are going to get hurt, Canadians are going to get hurt. Let’s sit down and start moving forward on what you want to see in the CUSMA and what we want to see.”
Carney is expecting to be sworn in as Canada’s 24th prime minister by the end of the week, although an official swearing-in ceremony at Rideau Hall has not been scheduled yet. The prime minister-designate says he will not be engaging in any formal discussions with Trump regarding tariffs until after a ceremony has taken place.
