Muskoka, Ontario (Rajeev Sharma): As tensions rise over U.S. tariffs and internal trade barriers, Canada’s provincial and territorial leaders are gathering in Ontario’s picturesque Muskoka region for a three-day summit aimed at charting a coordinated economic response.
The annual summer meeting of premiers, hosted this year by Ontario’s Doug Ford, comes as the country faces growing uncertainty in cross-border trade with the United States. The agenda is expected to revolve around escalating tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump, as well as longstanding challenges within Canada’s own trade framework.
Prime Minister Mark Carney is scheduled to meet with the premiers on Tuesday to address the looming August 1 deadline set by Trump for a new trade deal, alongside a threat to levy sweeping 35% tariffs if no agreement is reached. Talks are also expected to include a push to include softwood lumber exports in ongoing negotiations with Washington.
The opening day of the gathering focuses on consultations with Indigenous representatives, including the Assembly of First Nations, the Métis National Council, and the Native Women’s Association of Canada. These groups have expressed growing concern that accelerated economic development projects—such as pipelines and mineral extraction—are advancing without sufficient consultation or consent.
Carney, who recently met with hundreds of First Nations leaders, is under pressure to balance the pace of development with constitutional obligations to Indigenous communities. Projects in Ontario’s resource-rich Ring of Fire region, in particular, remain a flashpoint.
Premier Ford, who is currently chair of the Council of the Federation, emphasized in a pre-meeting statement that safeguarding Canada’s economic interests is a top priority.
“This is our opportunity to present a united front in dealing with U.S. trade threats while ensuring we unlock Canada’s full economic potential,” Ford said.
British Columbia Premier David Eby is preparing to highlight B.C.’s needs in the discussions, particularly around lumber exports and federal support for infrastructure investment.
“Our region must be given the same attention that’s currently directed at Ontario’s auto sector or Alberta’s energy projects,” Eby said last week in Victoria.
Meanwhile, Alberta’s Danielle Smith reiterated her call for provincial collaboration. She noted that her province recently signed a memorandum of understanding with Ontario to explore cross-provincial transportation corridors such as pipelines and rail links.
“We’ve got to strengthen trade between our provinces,” Smith said at a Calgary press conference. “Facing down this tariff threat will take more unity and fewer internal barriers.”
Smith and Ford also signaled they will urge Ottawa to reconsider a number of federal energy policies, including the West Coast tanker ban, national emissions caps, and net-zero targets, arguing these measures hamper Canada’s economic competitiveness.
Ford has championed greater interprovincial trade freedom, pushing legislation in Ontario that eliminates internal trade exceptions and signing similar MOUs with several provinces. Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston echoed the need to break down domestic trade walls.
“We’re seeing that collaboration between provinces isn’t just possible, it’s necessary,” Houston said in a written statement. “The U.S. economic pressure is forcing us to modernize how we trade internally and explore new markets abroad.”
Aside from trade, the premiers are also expected to discuss matters related to public safety, health care coordination, emergency preparedness, and national sovereignty. A key legal topic on the table is bail reform—an issue premiers have urged the federal government to act on. Carney has pledged to bring new legislation forward in the fall, and Tuesday’s discussions may shape its development.
This year’s summer conference also marks the end of Ford’s term as chair of the Council of the Federation, a role that rotates among provinces annually. However, political watchers say Ford’s influence isn’t likely to wane.
As premier of Canada’s most populous province, Ford has developed a close working relationship with Carney and gained national attention for his vocal stance on trade. His appearances on U.S. news networks defending Canadian interests earned him the nickname “Captain Canada”, a persona that played heavily into his most recent electoral win, where he campaigned on a platform focused on standing up to Trump’s tariffs and won a third straight majority.
