Meeting in the Sunshine State: Canadian Ministers Face Off with Trump Team on Trade

As the sun shines over Florida, Canadian ministers are taking a trip to discuss a cloudy issue: potential tariffs on Canadian imports. The newly appointed Finance Minister, Dominic Leblanc, and Foreign Minister, Melanie Joly, flew to Palm Beach to chat with the team of US President-elect Donald Trump. The main topic on the table? A 25% tax on everything Canada sends to the US, which Trump has promised to impose. Trump's reasoning? He wants Canada to clamp down on undocumented migrants and the drug fentanyl entering the US. In response, Canada has rolled out a CAN$1-billion border security plan. The ministers will fill Trump's team in on this plan and explain how the tariffs could hurt both countries. Back home, things are a bit messy. Trudeau's government is facing a crisis. The former Finance Minister, Chrystia Freeland, resigned and criticized Trudeau for not preparing Canada's finances for these potential tariffs. Some former allies are even calling for Trudeau to step down. Joly and Leblanc might be in line to take his place if that happens. This meeting is a big deal. It's not just about trade; it's about the relationship between two close neighbors. Let's hope they can find some common ground in the sunshine.