INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau told business leaders at the Canada-U.S
Economic Summit in Toronto that U.S
President Donald Trump's threat to annex Canada "is a real thing.""Mr
Trump has it in mind that the easiest way to do it is absorbing our country and it is a real thing
after delivering an opening address to the summit Friday morning outlining the key issues facing the country when it comes Canada's trading
relationship with the U.S.After the opening address, media were ushered out of the room, when a microphone that was left on picked up on
what was only meant to be heard behind closed doors.Asked about the comments, Labour Minister and government House Leader Steven MacKinnon
said Canada may have different regions and political difference, but the country "is united on one thing: its pride in being
Canadian.""Canada is free, Canada is sovereign, Canada will choose its own destiny, thank you very much
the long term."We are in a moment, a moment that we have to meet for Canadians, to see not just how we get through this particular challenge
over the next 30 days or few months, but how we get through and thrive and grow stronger over the next four years, and into what may be a
more challenging long-term political situation with the United States," Trudeau said.In order to have success on both of those fronts,
Trudeau said that attendees of the summit will be discussing how to do three key things: deliver an internal free-trade deal, ensure
at least a month, with Canada offering a plan to address Trump's border security and crime concerns.Trudeau said earlier this week that
despite that reprieve, concerns remain and the Canada-U.S
Economic Summit will "find ways to galvanize our economy, create more jobs and bigger paycheques, make it easier to build and trade within
our borders and diversify export markets."Interprovincial tradeBusiness leaders in Canada have long complained that it's easier to do
premiers are united in wanting to drop internal trade barriers that Trudeau says "just don't make sense," and now the timing is right to get
"This is one of those moments and opportunities where we actually can
said, will require governments and business leaders "to step up and push hard and make sure that in this moment we actually move forward on
trade with the United States," he said
it forges business partnerships with the U.S
that we are looking at," Trudeau said
"We're always going to be trading with the United States, can we make sure we're doing it from a position of strength?"Trudeau said Canada
also has to make sure it is "taking advantage of the incredible trade deals" the country has signed with the European Union (EU), Pacific
talking about," he said.Conservatives say Trudeau should recall Parliament, not host a summitConservative MP Michael Barrett, the party's
critic for ethics and accountable government, said that instead of holding a summit in Ottawa, Trudeau should be recalling Parliament so
that MPs can debate Canada's response to Trump in the House of Commons."What issues could be more important than what is being addressed in
questions to ask Trudeau, but "he's gone into hiding behind a locked door."Asked if his party would be willing to put off a confidence vote,
that would bring down the government, in order to work on a legislative response to Trump's tariffs, Barrett said that dealing with the
response to Trump could happen "and then when that issue has been put to rest, we can deal with the matters of confidence."Barrett said that
plan should be based on suggestions from Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre to pass a tax cut, repeal the B.C
coast tanker ban and secure the border.(Source: CBC)
