Canadian premiers are ready for action after a First Ministers meeting Wednesday evening to discuss US tariff threats with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Alberta Premier Danielle Smith on Thursday morning is expected to make an announcement about steps the Alberta government will take to strengthen its border with the United States. Ontario Premier Doug Ford said "we need to be ready to fight," and threatened to "cut off energy" going into the US. .‘GOVERNOR TRUDEAU’: Trump trolls the PM after he claimed he’ll ‘punch back’ on US tariffs .Trudeau at the virtual meeting reportedly presented a plan to address President-elect Donald Trump’s 25% tariffs, which the incoming president said in November he plans to impose on Canada and Mexico with an executive order his first day in office. Trump said he was imposing the tariffs because America’s northern and southern neighbours have porous borders that allow for illegal immigrants and drug trafficking, particularly fentanyl, which then “invade” the United States. It was the first time Trudeau met with the premiers since his trip to Mar-a-Lago to discuss the matter with Trump. A senior source with knowledge of the call told the CBC the prime minister plans to tighten restrictions on the chemicals used in fentanyl production and improve coordination between the RCMP and other police forces. .Freeland, LeBlanc insist Canada’s border is secure, despite Trump’s allegations and 25% tariffs .Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc told reporters after the meeting the Trudeau Liberals would disclose details of the “border plan” in the "the coming days.""We're going to incorporate many of the positive suggestions that the premiers made into finalizing our border plan and then, obviously, a priority will be to share details of this plan with the incoming Trump administration and with Canadians," he said, per the CBC. The public safety minister previously said Ottawa is considering increasing equipment like drones and helicopters at the border. Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland after the meeting said premiers’ “proactive” suggestions would be taken into consideration in implementing the plan."Some premiers proactively identified products that their provinces produce and export to the United States — and which the US relies on — and which should be considered as part of the Canadian response," she said..Trudeau calls emergency First Ministers meeting in response to Trump’s tariffs .Smith has said the prime minister should act accordingly to Trump’s tariff threat with measures that would demonstrate Canada does take its border security seriously. She has considered sending Alberta law enforcement to monitor the border, as well as helicopters and drones. Ford told reporters after the meeting, “We will go to the full extent depending how far this goes.""We will go to the extent of cutting off their energy, going down to Michigan, going down to New York State and over to Wisconsin."“I don’t want this to happen, but my number one job is to protect Ontarians and Canadians as a whole.”“We’ll use every tool in our toolbox, including cutting them off energy that we’re sending down there."“This fight is coming, 100%. — January 20th or 21st, we don’t know what extent this fight’s going to go to.”Ford added Canada had to consider imposing tariffs on other goods. “We need to line up everything we’re going to tariff," he said.
