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→ The steel industry is in Ottawa to push for an aggressive tariff response.
→ TIM HODGSON reveals his politics origin story.
→ ANITA ANAND talks up her first trip as foreign minister.
→ Liberal MPs are acting cautiously around reporters.
→ Canada loses a giant in MARC GARNEAU.
Trade war
CLASH OF THE TITANS — Prime Minister MARK CARNEY faces mounting pressure from Ontario Premier DOUG FORD, the steel industry and labor leaders to hit back at the U.S. for doubling tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum.
— Timely tension: Industry Minister MÉLANIE JOLY hosts Canadian steel CEOs on the Hill today amid their calls for retaliation.
'We are looking at different scenarios right now, and we will [make] a decision, but we need a bit more time right now, not too long,' Joly told reporters in Ottawa Wednesday.
Ahead of the lobby day on the Hill, Canadian Steel Producers Association CEO CATHERINE COBDEN released a public statement calling for payback.
'We need urgent action to protect our industry by fully re-instating our retaliatory tariffs on the US steel and match this latest American escalation,' Cobden said.
— Holding off: Carney would only say his government is 'preparing reprisals' in the case that negotiations fail.
'We will take some time, not much, some time because we are in intensive discussions right now with the Americans on the trading relationship,' Carney told reporters in Ottawa. 'Those discussions are progressing.'
— Awkward showdown: Ford and Carney clashed in their approaches on Wednesday, with the Ontario premier accusing the PM of falling short in his response to President DONALD TRUMP.
'You're either standing up for Canada and protecting people's jobs, their livelihoods,' Ford told reporters in Toronto. 'Or you sit back and get steamrolled. That's not what I'm going to do.'
— Tit for tat: Ford sided with industry, calling for retaliatory tariffs, and is considering a 25 percent tax on electricity exports from Ontario to the U.S. A similar threat earlier this year caught the attention of Commerce Secretary HOWARD LUTNICK.
'Just seems with President Trump, it's five steps forward and 10 steps backward, and that doesn't help,' Ford said on CNN's 'The Situation Room.'
PLAYBOOK'S ONE-ON-ONE
GLOVES DROPPED — Energy Minister TIM HODGSON may be a political rookie, but he's a seasoned C-suite pro — especially in energy circles. He's also an enthusiastic rec hockey player.
As Hodgson tells MIKE BLANCHFIELD, he is drawing on those worlds to help wage what he calls 'economic war' on U.S. President DONALD TRUMP's tariffs.
— How it began: Prime Minister CARNEY has known Hodgson for a long time. He worked with him at the Bank of Canada and Goldman Sachs — and recruited him to run in the recent federal election.
'He asked me because part of this is going to have to be 'build things.' I've done that in my career,' Hodgson said. 'He said, 'I'd like your help. We're in an economic war.''
— What it is: Hodgson likens the trade war to that first Canada-U.S. showdown at the NHL's 4 Nations Face-Off in February — that game where American players started three fights in the first nine seconds.
'It took the three BS fights,' said Hodgson. 'The Canadians came together and said, 'We got this.' … The Americans have dropped their gloves with the trade war. We're gonna come together. We're gonna win this.'
— Powering up: 'The grand bargain is we can grow our natural resources, as long as we do it in an environmentally responsible way,' he said. 'That means if we're going to grow our production in the oil sands, we're going to do it with a significantly decarbonized barrel.'
Pro subscribers can read the full Q&A.
FIRST IN CANADA PLAYBOOK
EUROPE-BOUND — Foreign Minister ANITA ANAND is wheels-up this evening on her first overseas trip as Canada's top diplomat. Anand is headed to the U.K. and France for face-to-face check-ins with counterparts DAVID LAMMY and JEAN-NOËL BARROT.
Her transatlantic foray is a follow-up to Prime Minister MARK CARNEY's brief stops in both countries immediately following his March swearing-in.
— Countdown to Kananaskis: Ten days until G-7 leaders gather in the Canadian Rockies.
— Everything is economics: The minister conceives of foreign affairs as an economic portfolio as Ottawa works to overhaul Canada's global trading relationships. In a Wednesday interview, she insisted her past Cabinet gigs have prepped her for a particularly uncertain moment for the country.
'The work that I did in procurement, in defense, in transport, in internal trade, in [industry], was all about building resilient domestic supply chains,' she told Playbook. 'Now I'm taking all of that experience and saying, 'How can I ensure that our international relationships will do what Canadians need now?''
— New approach: A lot about Anand's day-to-day is brand new. Playbook was the first guest in the Confederation Building office where she was only just moving in. (Framed photos still needed to be hung on the walls.)
The minister described her overall approach to the job as 'strategic diplomacy' — a targeted effort to 'leverage our international relationships to benefit the Canadian domestic economy.'
→ Tricky case study: Anand says she brought that spirit to her first conversation with Indian counterpart SUBRAHMANYAM JAISHANKAR. That bilateral relationship is fraught amid an investigation into allegations that link India's government to the killing in Canada of Sikh activist HARDEEP SINGH NIJJAR.
'We discussed a range of issues, including the importance of allowing a relationship to develop one step at a time,' Anand said of that initial chat.
She added a big caveat: 'Ensuring that legal processes are followed is foremost amongst the considerations that I undertake as minister, and that includes the investigation into the case that is often brought up in these instances.'
ON THE HILL
LESS TALKING, MORE WALKING — The Prime Minister's Office has issued clear instructions to Liberal MPs and Cabinet: If you don't have anything good to say, keep walking.
Government sources familiar with caucus relations tell Playbook the PMO handed down what they call a new 'directive' after ministers bungled recent hallway scrums with reporters outside the caucus and Cabinet rooms.
— First: Housing Minister GREGOR ROBERTSON went viral for saying housing prices don't need to go down in order for homes to be more affordable.
— Then: Canadian Identity Minister STEVEN GUILBEAULT forgot what lane he was in, claiming Canada doesn't need more pipelines — and triggering Alberta in the process.
— But, but, but: The so-called directive didn't prevent Justice Minister SEAN FRASER from making his own oopsie this week. On Wednesday, he apologized for telling reporters a day earlier that First Nations don't have a veto over nation-building projects.
— Cultural shift: The Liberal caucus now scurries to beat the PM to their meetings, because there's an expectation from Carney that everyone arrives on time, the same sources said.
Staffers are often nudging their ministers along. Most MPs avoid eye contact with reporters, and many duck out a side exit to avoid confronting journalists altogether.
IN MEMORIAM
MARC GARNEAU (1949-2025) — Remembrances poured in Wednesday for Garneau, the first Canadian in space and former federal politician who died at 76 after a short illness.
'Marc faced his final days with the same strength, clarity and grace that defined his life,' his wife Pam wrote in a statement. The House of Commons paused for a moment of silence.
A selection of reflections:
— PM MARK CARNEY: 'Marc strived to build a stronger and safer Canada — always guided by deep and abiding purpose. He believed in progress, in science, in integrity, and in humility. Marc brought leadership, focus, and quiet strength to every file — be it strengthening aviation security in conflict zones or negotiating the release of Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor.'
— Former PM JUSTIN TRUDEAU: 'I first met Marc as a schoolboy in the early 1980s. I was in awe of his service and his courage then, and continued to be as I had the privilege to serve alongside him in Parliament and in government.'
— Former Liberal MP KIRSTY DUNCAN: 'Heartbroken to hear of the passing of my friend and former seat mate, Marc Garneau. A renowned astronaut and tireless public servant. He never missed a chance to tell me how much he loved his family.'
— Liberal MP MARC MILLER: 'Most of us don't get to meet our heroes, much less work with them and become friends. Marc Garneau's unmatched intellect and clarity of thought were beautiful to admire up close, not to mention his understated but wicked sense of humour.'
THE ROOMS THAT MATTER
— Defense Minister DAVID MCGUINTY will participate in a meeting of NATO counterparts at NATO Headquarters in Belgium.
— Governor General MARY SIMON will present the 2024 Michener Awards during an evening ceremony at Rideau Hall.
— At 9 a.m., the Parliamentary Budget Officer will post a legislative costing note on the federal Canada Disability Benefit.
— Over the lunch hour, Bank of Canada Deputy Governor SHARON KOZICKI will speak before the C.D. Howe Institute in Toronto.
Want more POLITICO? Download our mobile app to save stories, get notifications on U.S.-Canada relations, and more. In iOS or Android .
MORNING MUST-CLICKS
— The Edmonton Oilers came back to win Game 1 of their Stanley Cup showdown with the Florida Panthers. In overtime, no less.
— A POLITICO reporting team on the tips and tricks to a successful Trump meeting — including advice from former senior Trudeau adviser BRIAN CLOW.
— From CBC News: Trump's 'big, beautiful' tax reform bill could cost Canadians billions
— The Toronto Star reports from Queen's Park: Doug Ford pushes through rapid development law despite objections of First Nations
— Alberta Premier DANIELLE SMITH says she sees a 'breakthrough' in talks with Americans on energy, CP's KELLY MALONE reports.
PROZONE
For Pro subscribers, here's our latest policy newsletter from MIKE BLANCHFIELD:
In other news for Pro readers:
— Trump calls for scrapping debt limit, in megabill twist.
— CBO says Trump's tariffs will reduce budget deficits by $2.8 trillion.
— South Korea's new leader faces 'big test' to reach trade deal with Trump
— Trump, Senate GOP grapple with the House's SALT math
— Trump budget would trigger 'extinction-level event' for NASA
PLAYBOOKERS
Birthdays: HBD to former PM JOE CLARK and Chief Government Whip MARK GERRETSEN (50!).
Spotted: MPs from all parties, streaming out of the House Wednesday evening after the government's throne speech cleared the chamber without a recorded vote … Toronto Star deputy Ottawa bureau chief ALEX BALLINGALL, caught on camera cycling through a recent rainstorm.
Movers and shakers: Sen. DAVID ADAMS RICHARDS, a Trudeau appointee to the Red Chamber, joined the Conservative Senate caucus … Sen. FARAH MOHAMED joined the Independent Senators Group.
Lobby watch: CUPE posted a May 29 meeting with Labor secstate JOHN ZERUCELLI's chief of staff, NOÉMIE FISET-TREMBLAY, about working conditions for flight attendants.
Got a document to share? A birthday coming up? Send it all our way.
TRIVIA
Wednesday's answer: The late JIM FLAHERTY most recently unveiled a June budget shortly after the 2011 election.
Props to ANDREW BALFOUR, PATRICK DION, REID ALEXANDER, JOHN ECKER, DAVID GRANOVSKY, DARRYL DAMUDE, DARREN MAJOR, SHAUGHN MCARTHUR, MARC LEBLANC, AIDEN MUSCOVITCH, MALCOLM MCKAY, CAMERON RYAN, CHRIS LALANDE, ROBERT MCDOUGALL, JOHN PEPPER and ALYSON FAIR.
Today's question: How many Canadian foreign ministers have served since Liberals came to power in 2015?
Send your answer to canadaplaybook@politico.com
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Advertisement 'No, I don't,' he said. 'I really don't. I really, really don't.' His South Florida district is home to a large Haitian population and others affected by the CHNV and TPS reversals, including Cubans but he defended the travel ban. 'There are countries obviously that can't guarantee a process where we know that people are [vetted] to keep the country secure,' Diaz-Balart said. 'I don't think it's unreasonable.' Former Florida Republican Representative Carlos Curbelo, a moderate who was part of the immigration negotiations in 2018 that preceded the meeting, said Trump seems to prefer 'white-collar' immigrants or those whom Trump perceives to be have been recruited or have sufficient resources to come here. 'I don't think he understands or cares that those types of comments and campaigns unfairly mischaracterize hundreds of thousands of people at a time, and I don't think he understands that just because you're a refugee or an exile, that doesn't mean that you aren't capable of making major contributions to this country,' Curbelo said. Noting the Cuban exile community where he (and Diaz-Balart) hail from, Curbelo continued: 'It's people who had to leave their country, that was not their first choice, that was their only choice, and that doesn't preclude people from becoming exceptional Americans who do wonderful things.' Pressley, though, is convinced Trump's approach to Haitians is a concerted effort. She compared the trauma inflicted on the migrant community to the terror campaign of the white supremacist Ku Klux Klan, saying it gets harder to fight back and project optimism when the actions layer on top of each other. 'It is terrorizing. It is terrifying. It is traumatic,' Pressley said. 'And it's just so intentional. ... Singling out Haitians, I mean, he's moved in a way that is obsessive and consistently, pointedly harmful.' Advertisement Tal Kopan can be reached at
