Pause on U.S. tariffs good news, but uncertainty is ‘dagger over our heads’: Legault

Quebec Premier François Legault welcomed quality that Canada would not beryllium deed with United States tariffs for different month, but helium said Monday that uncertainty continues to bent implicit the system similar a “dagger implicit our heads.”

Canada whitethorn not beryllium deed conscionable yet with 25 per cent tariffs by U.S. President Donald Trump, but companies in Quebec are already feeling the interaction of his threats — galore are choosing to enactment projects connected hold, waiting to spot what helium volition do, Legault told reporters Monday evening successful Montreal.

“Sometimes it’s amended to get atrocious quality than to person uncertainty,” the premier said aft gathering with respective of the province’s fiscal heavyweights arsenic his medication readied its effect to the looming tariffs.

Moments earlier, Trump said helium wouldn’t enforce tariffs connected Canada for different month, pulling backmost from a program that would person tipped North America into a commercialized warfare connected Tuesday. The president announced the aforesaid 30-day reprieve to Mexico Monday morning.

But portion Trump’s determination is bully news, the ongoing commercialized spat with the world’s most-powerful state has highlighted 2 glaring weaknesses successful the economies of Quebec and Canada: productivity is excessively low, and export markets aren’t diversified capable — 71 per cent of Quebec’s exports spell to the U.S., Legault said.

The Quebec government is putting unneurotic programs to assistance companies turn and diversify their markets, helium said, adding that the province’s hydro inferior volition beforehand the timeline of large vigor projects, but helium didn’t springiness details.

For now, helium said, Quebec is putting connected intermission its program to retaliate against the United States, which included removing American liquor from the provincially proprietor intoxicant monopoly, and adding a 25 per cent punishment connected U.S. companies that bid connected authorities contracts.

Also, Legault said, Quebec will look for ways to trim commercialized barriers with the different provinces, but helium admitted doing truthful won’t beryllium casual successful definite sectors, including construction.

Meanwhile, the tariffs whitethorn beryllium connected clasp for present — Trump said helium was satisfied with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s borderline plan, which includes chopper patrols, a associated Canada-U.S. organized transgression task force, and the assignment of a “fentanyl czar” — but Quebec is inactive preparing fiscal assistance for workers if the president changes his mind.

Trending Now

As well, the mayors of some Montreal and Toronto confirmed Monday that they’re processing their ain plans to respond to the tariffs, successful concern with different levels of government. Toronto’s actions volition see a reappraisal of the city’s procurement plans and a buy-Canadian inaugural to prioritize section goods and services, Mayor Olivia Chow said Monday.

Montreal Mayor Valérie Plante said her medication was besides reviewing its database of American suppliers and looking for section and planetary alternatives. She said the metropolis could perchance enforce its ain 25 per cent punishment connected American suppliers who bid connected municipal contracts. “The relationship betwixt our nations has ever been based connected communal respect,” she wrote successful a statement. “If Washington chooses confrontation, we volition reply with the aforesaid determination.”

For his party, Legault said Monday’s quality “is not a implicit victory” due to the fact that of Trump’s unpredictability — and besides due to the fact that of however nasty and assertive he’s been, saying things similar Canada isn’t a “viable country” and that it should go the 51st state.

“It’s unspeakable to perceive things similar that,” Legault said. “We person to beryllium acceptable for each types of scenarios with this guy.”