This morning, Ontario Premier Doug Ford and Prime Minister Mark Carney sat down in Ottawa to discuss joint efforts aimed at positioning Canada as the most competitive economy within the G7. The meeting, described by Ford as a “heart-to-heart,” focused on collaborating across levels of government to protect and strengthen the country’s economic standing amid global uncertainty.
Ford pressed Carney to lower both personal and corporate taxes, arguing that a tax relief would stimulate business activity and make Canada more appealing to investment at a time when U.S. tariffs are disrupting trade and economic predictability. He also proposed temporary tax reductions for homebuyers, aimed at supporting the housing market.
Prime Minister Carney, who has recently advanced ambitious economic priorities including the passage of the One Canadian Economy Act, which removes federal barriers to interprovincial trade and accelerates infrastructure development—welcomed the dialogue. The legislation, passed in June, reflects his commitment to enhancing domestic integration and speeding up nation-building projects following recent tensions in U.S.–Canada trade relations.
A broader concern underpinned the meeting: the volatile trade environment with the United States. Ford warned that President Trump could reopen the U.S.–Mexico–Canada Agreement (USMCA) and impose new tariffs unexpectedly, and urged Carney’s government to anticipate such developments. Carney acknowledged the risk and said he had not communicated with Trump recently but would choose the right moment to address potential disruptions ahead.
The Ottawa sit-down is emblematic of how Canada’s federal and provincial leaders are responding to international pressures with a unified economic posture. Both Carney and Ford emphasized shared goals: dismantling red tape, enhancing inter-provincial trade, and ensuring Canada’s economy remains resilient and forward-looking—even in a shifting global trade landscape.
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