INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau told business leaders at the Canada-United States Economic Summit in Toronto that United States 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 United States 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
on Canadian goods for 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-United States 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 business with other countries than
"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
it forges business partnerships with the United States when it comes to the trade in critical minerals and energy to ensure both countries
"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
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)
