Hub Podcasts Will PM Carney’s trade meeting with the premiers accomplish anything?
Jul 21, 2025
John Ibbitson, a veteran journalist with 25 years at the Globe and Mail, shares insights on the crucial meeting between Prime Minister Carney and provincial premiers. He discusses the urgency of collaboration in trade negotiations, especially in light of looming tariffs from President Trump. The conversation touches on the challenges of interprovincial dynamics concerning energy exports and the housing crisis, as well as the complexities of indigenous relations. Ibbitson emphasizes the importance of a united front to navigate Canada's multifaceted economic landscape.
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Importance of Premiers' Unity
- Prime Minister Carney's meeting with premiers is crucial to gauge their unanimity on trade negotiations with the U.S.
- Provincial consensus is vital as trade agreements require broad federal-provincial support to succeed.
Economic Union and Trade Alignment
- Premiers strive to advance economic union to reduce internal trade and labor mobility barriers.
- However, the key issue is if premiers and the federal government align their stance on tariffs and trade responses.
Challenges of Internal Trade Barriers
- Despite announcements, substantial progress on lifting interprovincial trade barriers remains elusive.
- True internal free trade would require harmonizing regulations across provinces, still a challenging and slow process.