How President Trump Woke Up a Sleeping Giant.

How President Trump Woke Up a Sleeping Giant. by Maj (ret’d) CORNELIU, CHISU, CD, PMSC FEC, CET, P.Eng. Former Member of Parliament Pickering-Scarborough East With the tariff war initiated by President Trump, Canada has finally realized that it needs to take care of its own interests in order to preserve its independence and economic wellbeing. First of all, Canada needs to develop the country’s interests in a way that makes it less dependent on other nations. Even the best of friends can change such that you need to stand on your own feet in these strange times of continuing changes on the geopolitical world stage. Canada has many assets to offer the world in this new era of trade, driven by energy security and increasingly powered by clean electricity. Canada’s major trading partners are seeking critical minerals, clean technologies and stable governments. Canada has the competitive advantages to play a leading role in this new marketplace and provide real benefits to the whole country’s economy, including stable jobs and economic growth for years to come. The premiers are clearly aware of this advantage, as we have seen B.C., Ontario, Quebec and Manitoba pitch their emissions-free grids as assets to entice new investments. Nevertheless, to fully seize this advantage, our provincial and federal leaders need to prioritize these Canadian sectors and opportunities, in their discussions about our economic future. Together, they need to set (and meet) goals, create market certainty for investors, and spur capital investments to get things built. I personally feel that for the first time, the Federal government and the Provinces are on the same page in the quest to make Canada stronger in the fight for a better and diversified economy. In view of the weaponized tariffs used by the United States administration to dominate the economy of Canada, Canada seems to have formed a united team to minimize its effects, develop its immense national resources and diversify its trade in proportionate response to the threat. Prime Minister Carney was invited to join the premiers, who gathered in Huntsville Ontario at the meeting of the Council of the Federation. Hosted and chaired by Premier Ford, they talked about eliminating internal trade barriers and President Donald Trump's threat to impose 35 per cent tariffs on a wide variety of Canadian goods on Aug. 1. The premiers’ gathering was a chance for the premiers to focus on ways to build a stronger economy. The Liberal government has passed legislation granting cabinet the power to fast-track major projects it deems to be in the national interest, and is set to open its major projects office by Labour Day. Premiers have submitted their support for projects they would like to see fast-tracked, but Carney has stated that the government has not yet started assembling a list of projects. "We need you to work together to propose ideas and have consensus on the projects that you want to move forward," Carney said, adding that continuous engagement with Indigenous Peoples is a key part of that. The premiers have met with First Nations, Métis and Inuit leaders to involve them in the future development of Canada. Premier Ford also said that the federal government needs to be ready to support industries hit hard by the trade war, and Canada needs to bring onshore the production of things like aluminum cans and steel beams to avoid tariffs. "We need to send them a strong message. We don't have to take a back seat to anyone in the world, and we sure the heck don't have to take a back seat to President Trump," he declared. Ford also praised Carney for being a "brilliant businessman" and said it's refreshing for premiers to work with a prime minister who "has our backs." Prime Minister Carney commended the premiers on the series of trade agreements they have signed to open up access to internal Canadian markets. Ford joined the premiers of Alberta and Saskatchewan in announcing a new memorandum of understanding calling for the construction of new pipelines using Ontario steel. The agreement also calls for the building of new rail lines to help ship critical minerals from yet-to-be approved mines in Ontario's Ring of Fire region to Western Canada. Ford calls the agreement a "game changer" that focuses on shipping Western oil to refineries in southern Ontario and a new deep sea port in James Bay. Alberta Premier Danielle Smith said she's heard from Prime Minister Carney that he wants to make Canada an energy superpower, and she wants him to drop "nine bad laws" she said are hurting the country's business investment climate. Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe said he wants to hear from Prime Minister Carney about how port capacity can be expanded to get more exports to overseas markets and reduce Canada's reliance on U.S. trade. On this occasion, Prime Minister Carney joined the premiers for a two-hour meeting focused largely on updating them on the most recent developments in talks with the United States. Ontario Premier Doug Ford commented that the talks with Prime Minister Carney were “really, really good” and “very, very positive.” “I think we’re all engaged, we’re all united, and we’re standing behind the Prime Minister to make sure that he has a fair and free trade deal for Canada,” Ford said. “Once we communicate with each other and everyone knows which way we’re going, we look and act as a united team moving forward, and that’s exactly what we are right now,” Ford told CTV News in Muskoka. “No one can predict what President Trump is going to throw at us, and I emphasize about being united and making sure that we all sing from the same song sheet.” In conclusion, there are strong new trade winds blowing. Catching them now can speed Canada ahead toward a stronger position in the global economy. Long live Canada!