Ford says Carney must avoid being ‘bullied' in White House meeting with Trump
Ford made the comments at an unrelated event on Monday, where he said he was confident in the prime minister ahead of his first trip to meet face-to-face with Trump after an election campaign focused on the president.
Carney departed for Washington, D.C., on Monday afternoon in preparation for Tuesday's meeting, his first trip to the United States since he was elected to form a minority government in a race where he talked tough on Trump.
With the meeting looming, the president was dismissive and said he was 'not sure what he wants to see me about.'
Ford said he wanted to make sure Carney didn't get pushed around in the potentially key White House summit.
Story continues below advertisement
'I just mentioned to him, don't get bullied because we know where he's going, and stand firm,' Ford said on Monday morning. 'We're their number one customer — and yes, they're our number one customer — but just be strong, we have your back.'
Get breaking National news
For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up
By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy
While the premier offered advice to Carney ahead of his first major diplomatic mission to the United States, his office confirmed Ford himself had not been invited to attend.
The Progressive Conservatives recently won a third successive majority on the promise that another majority would strengthen Ontario's hand to deal with Trump. While Ford has travelled to Washington, D.C., several times and met with Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, he has not spoken to the president.
But at Queen's Park, even Ford's critics were sympathetic to the fact the premier was not included in the meeting and said it was appropriate that the prime minister meet with the president one-on-one for his first Washington visit.
'I think in this first meeting, I think it is important that they lay the groundwork, prime minister to president,' Ontario Liberal Leader Bonnie Crombie said. 'I think it's very important that the two meet one-on-one.'
Ontario Green Party Leader Mike Schreiner also suggested the meeting made sense.
'You know what? I think Prime Minister Carney deserves an opportunity to have a one-on-one meeting with Trump, so I'm not going to criticize that,' he said.
Story continues below advertisement
NDP Leader Marit Stiles, however, suggested Ford's lack of invitation was a poor reflection on how he was handling Ontario's role in the U.S.-Canada trade war.
'I think at the end of the day, the premier has not proven himself to be ready for the fight,' she said. 'He's taken a laissez-faire approach to this, and that's not what Canada needs right now. We need people who are going to get up and fight for every single job in every single sector.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Global News
28 minutes ago
- Global News
U.S. judge denies Trump request to unseal Ghislaine Maxwell grand jury files
A federal judge has rejected the Trump administration's request to release grand jury documents related to the trial of Ghislaine Maxwell, the former aide of disgraced financier and sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein. The U.S. Justice Department had called for the unsealing of testimony and evidence involving Maxwell and Epstein. On Monday, Judge Paul Engelmayer said the materials were of no public or historical interest. 'The Court therefore denies the Government's motion to unseal at the threshold. Contrary to the Government's depiction, the Maxwell grand jury testimony is not a matter of significant historical or public interest. Far from it,' Engelmayer wrote, adding that a significant portion of the documents the government requested were already in the public domain after being presented at Maxwell's 2021 trial. View image in full screen FILE – Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell attend an event in 2005 in New York City. Getty Images 'It consists of garden-variety summary testimony by two law enforcement agents. And the information it contains is already almost entirely a matter of longstanding public record, principally as a result of live testimony by percipient witnesses at the 2021 Maxwell trial.' Story continues below advertisement Engelmayer also said it was evident to him that the Trump administration was not familiar with Maxwell's trial because its request identified records that were presented during Maxwell's trial as sealed, suggesting that it intended to deflect public attention from the case. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy 'A member of the public, appreciating that the Maxwell grand jury materials do not contribute anything to public knowledge, might conclude that the Government's motion for their unsealing was aimed not at 'transparency' but at diversion – aimed not at full disclosure but at the illusion of such,' he wrote. Last week, Maxwell said she opposed the federal government's request to unseal the files, which she argued would be in contravention of her legal rights. 'Jeffrey Epstein is dead. Ghislaine Maxwell is not. Whatever interest the public may have in Epstein, that interest cannot justify a broad intrusion into grand jury secrecy in a case where the defendant is alive, her legal options are viable, and her due process rights remain,' her lawyers wrote in a formal response. Story continues below advertisement Maxwell is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence for her role in Epstein's sex abuse scandal and is in the process of appealing her 2021 conviction. 'Given that she is actively litigating her case and does not know what is in the grand jury record, she has no choice but to respectfully oppose the government's motion to unseal it,' her lawyers, David Oscar Markus and Melissa Madrigal, wrote. Maxwell has re-entered the spotlight in recent weeks after giving an interview with U.S. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche and being transferred to a lesser security prison in Texas.
Global News
28 minutes ago
- Global News
Fight over Saskatchewan school pronoun law to resume in court Monday
The Saskatchewan Court of Appeal is expected to rule today on the province's appeal of a decision to allow a challenge of its school pronoun law. A judge ruled last year that the court challenge could continue, despite the government's use of the notwithstanding clause. The law, which came into force in 2023, requires parental consent if children under 16 want to change their names or pronouns at school. Lawyers for the LGBTQ+ group UR Pride brought forward the challenge, arguing the law causes irreparable harm to gender diverse youth and its case should move ahead. The government has argued its use of the notwithstanding clause to bring the law into force should end the court challenge. Nearly a dozen groups intervened in the appeal, including the government of Alberta, which argued in favour of Saskatchewan. Story continues below advertisement 1:41 UR Pride fights Saskatchewan's pronoun law Alberta passed a law last year requiring students 15 and younger have parental consent to change their names or pronouns. Students 16 and 17 don't need consent but their parents have to be notified. Get weekly health news Receive the latest medical news and health information delivered to you every Sunday. Sign up for weekly health newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy New Brunswick also had a pronoun policy but Premier Susan Holt revised it after she was elected in 2024. UR Pride amended its challenge and argues Saskatchewan's law violates Section 12 of the Charter, which is the right to be free from cruel and unusual treatment. The province cited other sections when it invoked the notwithstanding clause. Former Justice Minister Bronwyn Eyre said last year the Saskatchewan Party government wouldn't hesitate to use the notwithstanding clause again.
Calgary Herald
28 minutes ago
- Calgary Herald
Canadian road trips to U.S. plunge for seventh straight month
Article content Road trips to the U.S. decreased for a seventh straight month as Canadians ramped up their American boycott. Article content Canadian-resident return trips by automobile from the neighbouring U.S. slumped 36.9% in July from a year ago, Statistics Canada data showed Monday. Article content Article content The drop in U.S. travel underscores Canadians' resentment toward their southern neighbour, who is their biggest trading partner and was once their favourite vacation destination. Article content Article content While the Canadian economy has appeared to avoid the worst recessionary outcomes, industries exposed to President Donald Trump's tariffs like steel and autos are reeling. Article content Concerns have also grown in Canada that visitors to the U.S. may be caught up in Trump's immigration crackdown. Article content Amid the strain in the relationship, some Americans also appear to be avoiding Canada, but to a lesser extent. The number of U.S. car trips to Canada fell 7.4% in July from a year ago. Article content
