Nunavut Premier arrives in Washington to counter Trump’s threats
Meetings with government officials, politicians planned to avert import tariffs Trump says he favours
With U.S. President Donald Trump threatening import tariffs on Canadian products, Canada’s premiers including Premier P.J. Akeeagok are in Washington to stress positive relations between the countries. (File photo)
Nunavut Premier P.J. Akeeagok and Canada’s 12 other premiers arrived in Washington, D.C., Tuesday where they plan to present a united front and make the case over two days for strengthening Canada-U.S. relations.
“With snow coming down here, it feels like we are home,” Akeeagok told Nunatsiaq News, shortly after his plane touched down and Washington was being battered by a snowstorm.
Joking aside, he got down to business.
“I think it’s so important, especially at this moment, to have that united voice and that united push [to share] the potential impacts the tariffs have on each of us,” Akeeagok said.
The premiers’ visit is in response to U.S. President Donald Trump’s threat to impose 25 per cent tariffs on nearly all Canadian imports. He backed off that threat temporarily last week for one month, but on Monday signed an order imposing 25 per cent tariffs on all steel and aluminum, including Canadian products, coming into his country, to take effect on March 12.
Trump has also repeatedly speculated about making Canada join the U.S. and becoming the 51st state.
Akeeagok noted that while Nunavut may not be directly impacted by Trump’s tariff threats, it’s important to let people know “the sheer impact it would have on us and our southern friends” in the United States.
“It’s so important to be down here to tell our story, that we’re all connected, and any tariff is not good for anyone, including our closest ally and closest friend, the United States.”
The Council of the Federation, an organization composed of Canada’s 13 premiers, works to promote co-operation between provinces and territories. Ontario Premier Doug Ford chairs the council, and is leading the premiers’ visit to Washington for meetings with members of the Trump administration.
“I’ve met with the industry folks in Nunavut, and there’s a real concern in terms of the investor confidence, in terms of investments, specifically in the mining sector,” Akeeagok said of the potential impact of tariffs, and any reciprocal tariffs Canada might impose on U.S. imports in response.
While the majority of meetings are planned for Wednesday, Akeeagok said Ford arranged a meeting among the premiers, North Dakota Sen. Kevin Cramer and industry leaders later on Tuesday.
Starting Wednesday morning, premiers are expected to begin meetings with with U.S. government officials and industry leaders that are expected to stretch into the evening.
Located in Iqaluit, Nunavut, Canada, Nunatsiaq News is dedicated to covering affairs in Nunavut and the Nunavik territory of Quebec since 1973. It has been a partner to ArcticToday and its predecessors since 2016.
