Latest news with #B7Summit
Toronto Star
17-05-2025
- Business
- Toronto Star
Donald Trump's envoy suggests talks ‘over the next couple of weeks' will address the Canada-U.S. relationship
OTTAWA — Donald Trump's new emissary to Ottawa struck a friendly tone toward his Canadian hosts in a speech at a business summit on Friday, where he dodged any direct reference to the trade war his president launched and alluded to discussions about how Canada and the U.S. can 'move forward' with their relationship. In a speech at the B7 Summit of business groups from G7 countries — a private sector preview of next month's political summit of wealthy democracies in Kananaskis, Alta. — U.S. Ambassador Pete Hoekstra spoke of his family connections to Canada and noted how his Dutch parents were 'liberated by Canadians' in the Netherlands during the Second World War.
Hamilton Spectator
17-05-2025
- Business
- Hamilton Spectator
Donald Trump's envoy suggests talks ‘over the next couple of weeks' will address the Canada-U.S. relationship
OTTAWA — Donald Trump's new emissary to Ottawa struck a friendly tone toward his Canadian hosts in a speech at a business summit on Friday, where he dodged any direct reference to the trade war his president launched and alluded to discussions about how Canada and the U.S. can 'move forward' with their relationship. In a speech at the B7 Summit of business groups from G7 countries — a private sector preview of next month's political summit of wealthy democracies in Kananaskis, Alta. — U.S. Ambassador Pete Hoekstra spoke of his family connections to Canada and noted how his Dutch parents were 'liberated by Canadians' in the Netherlands during the Second World War. Pacing the stage and speaking without notes, Hoekstra also declared the United States is 'open for business' and keen to work with other countries on economic and security issues. He congratulated the federal government for bringing King Charles III to deliver the throne speech to open the new session of Parliament later this month, and joked how he liked Prime Minister Mark Carney's language from his recent White House visit, when he told President Trump that he had consulted the 'owners' of Canada on the campaign trail and they rejected his desire to annex the country as the 51st American state. 'Owners ... I like that. I'm just going to steal it from Carney,' said Hoekstra, who earlier this week told the National Post that the Trump administration is 'done' with any expectation it will absorb Canada. What remains, however, are tariffs imposed by both countries on the others' imports, after Trump first slapped duties on Canadian steel and aluminum, along with a host of other exports to the U.S., including Canadian-made cars. The federal government has responded with retaliatory tariffs on tens of billions of dollars worth of American imports. On April 28, Carney's Liberals won enough seats to form another minority government, with the prime minister promising to renegotiate Canada's economic and security ties with the U.S. and declaring that the previous relationship between the countries — where Canadians relied largely on the U.S. for trade and military co-operation — was 'over.' Hoekstra, who was sworn in as U.S. ambassador to Canada last month, said Friday that 'there will be discussions over the next couple of weeks' about how Canada and the U.S. 'move forward on a number of serious issues.' Referring to the business groups attending the summit, Hoekstra added that the U.S. wants 'to partner with you in things that secure our countries and our people.' Earlier, in a scrum with reporters at the event, Canadian Chamber of Commerce president Candace Laing said the American tariffs are causing a 'ton of damage' to businesses and workers. Earlier this week, Honda sparked concerns when it announced a two-year pause on plans for $15 billion in electric vehicle production in Ontario, citing a plunging profit forecast for this year. Touted as a major addition to Ontario's manufacturing base, the project hit roadblocks from a 'We've gone from a chill to a deep freeze,' Laing said. Asked whether the Canadian economy can bounce back and return to strength and business certainty if the tariffs are lifted, Laing added that it is 'too early to tell.' Addressing the business summit earlier Friday, former South Carolina governor Nikki Haley — who ran unsuccessfully against Trump for the Republican presidential nomination last year — urged those listening to keep doing business with the U.S. and predicted the current trade tensions are temporary. It's just messy right now,' Haley said. 'This too shall pass.' In an interview with the Star, newly-appointed Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand said she will approach the U.S. relationship with 'respect and professionalism,' with the goal of reaching a solution to the crisis that benefits Canada. 'We need to advocate for Canadian interests and Canadian economic interests. And that's something that I have been focused on in multiple portfolios,' Anand said, referring to her past roles as minister of procurement, national defence, transport, and as president of the Treasury Board. Anand echoed Carney in rejecting Trump's desire to make Canada part of the U.S., and suggested any deal to get out of the current trade war would benefit both sides. 'Out focus is to get to the negotiating table to ensure that we are advancing Canadian interests in a way we have done historically. Canada is the only G7 country that has a free-trade agreement with every other G7 country. There's a reason for that. It's because we are able to advance Canadian interests at the negotiating table while reaching a mutually beneficial result,' Anand said. Looking ahead to next month's summit in Alberta, former Justin Trudeau adviser Gerald Butts — who informally advised Carney during the Liberal leadership race and beyond — told the audience at the business event in Ottawa that he has low hopes for what can be accomplished at the upcoming G7, where global trade concerns driven by Trump's tariffs are expected to dominate. 'Survival would be good. And I worry about that ... There are so many things that could go wrong,' said Butts, noting Trump's unpredictability, as well as how the host country of Canada just went through a national election. 'My expectations are low. I hope they are exceeded.' With files from Raisa Patel
National Post
16-05-2025
- Business
- National Post
U.S. trade turbulence is 'messy' but will pass, says former governor
OTTAWA — Canada and other countries should not give up on doing business with the United States, former South Carolina governor Nikki Haley said Friday at the B7 summit conference in Ottawa. Article content Article content Haley, Donald Trump's former rival for the Republican presidential nomination, is among the key speakers at the event, where business leaders and diplomats assembled to chart a way through global trade uncertainty. Article content Article content Haley's comments come as the U.S. stokes instability in the global trade order with Trump's tariffs, forcing some businesses to reorient their supply chains away from the American market. Article content Article content 'Don't assume that the U.S. doesn't want to do business with your country,' Haley said. 'They actually do want to do business with your country. It's just messy right now.' Article content Trump has repeatedly insisted the United States needs nothing from Canada, though Canada is a significant source to the U.S. for multiple industries including energy, agriculture and critical minerals. Article content Haley compared the current trade environment with the United States to 'growing pains' and said 'this too shall pass.' Article content She took part in a panel discussion Friday morning on how business leaders can build trust in an increasingly fractured world. Article content She said that while all businesses should have a '24-hour rule' encouraging them to pause before reacting to major geopolitical shifts, she joked that it should be a '72-hour rule' for those in the U.S. right now. Article content Haley otherwise avoided commenting directly on President Trump, who defeated her for the Republican nomination in 2024. Haley, who was Trump's ambassador to the United Nations during his first presidency, was not given a position in his second administration. Article content U.S. Ambassador to Canada Pete Hoekstra is scheduled for an afternoon address to the B7, which is a partner conference to the G7 summit happening in Alberta next month. Article content
Politico
15-05-2025
- Business
- Politico
Trade war, meet B7
Presented by Send tips | Subscribe here | Email Canada Playbook | Follow Politico Canada Thanks for reading Canada Playbook. Let's get into it. → Trade war talk and bilat banter as B7 leaders gather in Ottawa. → The first Liberal MP to publicly call for Trudeau's resignation has zero regrets. → MARK CARNEY's ministry makes its first impressions in the West Block gauntlet. Trade war HI, FRIENDS — As Industry Minister MÉLANIE JOLY reintroduced herself to a gala's worth of business leaders last night at the Canadian Museum of History, Finance Minister FRANÇOIS-PHILIPPE CHAMPAGNE was upstairs wrapping up a 30-minute chat with DONALD TRUMP's top envoy in Ottawa. Champagne's extended couch convo with Amb. PETE HOEKSTRA was tucked away from prying eyes two floors above the gala floor (but within view of a gaggle of journalists). The bilat followed the finance minister's remarks a few minutes earlier at the opening reception for the B7 Summit — a business-focused G7 subgroup that feeds into June's leaders' confab. — Confab o'clock: Over the next two days at the National Arts Centre, the B7 set will gab about shared priorities in an uncertain world. They'll publish an extensive communique later this morning. — Word choice: Joly framed her shift to industry from foreign affairs in trade-war terms. 'I'm leaving the diplomatic front, and therefore the causes of this trade war, to go much more on the economic front, which are the consequences of this war.' → A reminder: Hoekstra was in the building at the time — maybe not within earshot. — We caught that, too: Joly noted that one of her final jobs as foreign minister was marshaling a successful communique at the G7 ministers' meeting in Charlevoix, Quebec — 'which, trust me, was certainly a challenge.' — Lay it on thick: Champagne, speaking without notes at the reception, gave away his opening lines when G7 finance ministers meet in Banff on May 20: 'The first thing I want to say to my colleagues next week is that the business world is with us,' he told the room. Then he ribbed Canada's G7 sherpa, CINDY TERMORSHUIZEN, who stood offstage. 'I know the speech has not been written yet by our great sherpa, but I will deviate from the speech that you will provide me, and my first words will be to thank the B7 and the great work that you're going to be doing,' Champagne said. 'Thank you to all of you, because your work matters more than ever.' — Spotted in the room: Nunavut Premier P.J. AKEEAGOK, Former Liberal MP and Carney hockey teammate DAVID LAMETTI, AI Minister EVAN SOLOMON, CIBC vice chair LISA RAITT, Business Council senior adviser LOUISE BLAIS, former Conservative Leader ERIN O'TOOLE and top diplomats from Mexico, Italy, India, the EU, Australia, Germany and South Korea. Where the leaders are Still nothin' but crickets. CONVERSATION STARTER REDEMPTION SONG — 'I'm going to kill it!' WAYNE LONG says of his new gig as secretary of state for Canada Revenue Agency and financial institutions. Stoked is an understatement for Long's vibe. Six months ago, the New Brunswick MP was preparing to leave political life after nine years in the Liberal caucus. Three months ago, he updated his resume and started looking for a job. 'I felt on the outside. I really wanted to get out,' Long told Playbook in an interview at the Met, surrounded by joyous Liberals, and hours after his swearing-in to MARK CARNEY's ministry. — Life of the party: Last June, Long was the first Liberal MP to publicly call on former Prime Minister JUSTIN TRUDEAU to resign. For most of the summer, he remained the only sitting Liberal MP to do so. 'The longer you're in politics, the more insular you become. And the people around [Trudeau] did him a disservice,' Long told us. 'I called it out, and I think history will show that I was right.' — YOLO: Long doesn't regret being so vocal. 'Those who cast me as a torpedo to the party? I would argue that I saved the party. I saved the party from itself,' he said. Long did note a commitment to Cabinet confidence that he swore an oath to protect. — Pinch-me moment: In his wildest dreams, Long says he never imagined serving the current prime minister, especially after leading an effort to remove the previous one. 'Surreal. I mean it's been a 10-year journey to actually get into the Cabinet. I'd given up hope probably five years ago that that would actually happen,' Long said. (For the record: Long is a member of the ministry, not the Cabinet.) 'To walk up the walkway towards Rideau Hall, MÉLANIE JOLY beside me. I'm like, 'Oh my god, this is actually happening.' I'm thrilled. I'm privileged, I'm honored, I'm excited.' — Life-changing call: On Saturday, Long's phone rang at 10:45 a.m. The PM's first words: 'I want you on my team.' Long says Carney was fulfilling a promise made months earlier. Before Carney decided to run for Liberal leader, he phoned Long and his wife Denise, asking the three-term MP to stay in politics. After sleeping on it, Long called Carney with a message: 'If you're in, I'm in.' — New boss: Long will be serving under Finance Minister FRANÇOIS-PHILIPPE CHAMPAGNE. 'We're very similar. We're high energy, we're excitable, we're passionate and we're hard workers,' Long said. — Getting to work: 'I think we have an 18-month window of opportunity to show Canadians that we can build, that we can build energy corridors, that we're not afraid to relook and transform everything we've done as a country,' Long said. WORTH NOTING — Champagne was asked about the timing of the federal budget on Wednesday afternoon. He told reporters to expect a Fall Economic Statement. 'Take it step by step,' he said. 'Canadians understand that.' He refused to explain Cabinet's rationale for skipping past a budget this spring, but he laid out the broad strokes of a three-point plan for the government's first months in office: unveil a 'middle-class' tax cut, deliver a throne speech, then prepare a FES. 'There is no roadmap forward, no economic vision, and no willingness to lead,' Conservative Leader PIERRE POILIEVRE said in a statement. 'This is not the leadership Mark Carney promised — it's abandonment.' LISTEN UP, OTTAWA FRICTION AHEAD — STEVEN GUILBEAULT offered no reassurance to Albertans with his first post-election take on new pipelines — the sort of nation-building infrastructure that could maybe, possibly improve a deep-freeze in the Alberta-Ottawa relationship. — On the record: Speaking with reporters outside the Cabinet room, Guilbeault pumped the brakes. 'Remember that we bought a pipeline, Trans Mountain, and that is only used right now at about 40 percent of capacity,' said the former environment minister now responsible for Canadian identity, culture and official languages. 'Before we start talking about building an entire new pipeline, maybe we should maximize the use of existing infrastructure.' The suggestion landed with a thud in the land of oil and gas. — Proceed with caution: That's how the Business Council of Alberta greeted JULIE DABRUSIN's appointment as minister of environment and climate change. Dabrusin, a former parliamentary secretary to Guilbeault, cut her teeth in Trudeau's climate policy. Premier DANIELLE SMITH's chief of staff, ROB ANDERSON, was blunt about Dabrusin's elevation: 'Fire … meet gas,' he posted online. Nor did Smith hide her dismay. The premier is calling on Dabrusin to disavow Guilbeault's remarks. The business lobby was more diplomatic. Alberta's industrial sector will watch Dabrusin's 'first actions closely,' the BCA said in a statement. 'We will be looking to see if her leadership is willing to take policy in a more pragmatic and less ideological direction.' The business council had kinder words for Energy Minister TIM HODGSON ('He brings considerable economic and market credentials, along with real energy sector experience') and DOMINIC LEBLANC on 'one Canadian economy' and Canada-U.S. trade ('a good choice for these two significant files, given his high profile and proven track record'). — Calgary MIA: The BCA said Western representation in Cabinet 'appears somewhat light' — pointing to Calgary MP COREY HOGAN's absence from the table. → On balance: 'We had called for a positive initial signal on the economy, energy and natural resources, and this Cabinet, on balance, sends that positive signal. We will be closely watching for pragmatic policy development and a balanced representation of Western interests.' TALK OF THE TOWN FIRST IMPRESSIONS — It's early days for new ministers in the Ottawa fishbowl. Wednesday offered a test for those willing to accept it: speaking to reporters on the way in and out of their first Cabinet meeting. Here's what we picked up in the hallway: → BUCKLEY BELANGER's eight years of provincial Cabinet experience in Saskatchewan showed as he scrummed with reporters. Belanger, a rookie MP and secretary of state, took questions on Canadian unity and the future of pipelines with relative ease. Still, he's new to the Hill. As he wrapped up his scrum, Belanger asked a question we all pondered once: 'Where's the washroom?' → ADAM VAN KOEVERDEN, the Olympic medalist who is no stranger to the House of Commons but only a day in as Carney's pointman on sport, was far more tentative. 'I think it's early, you know?' he said during a brief exchange with the reporter pack about the difference between Carney and Trudeau's leadership styles. → NATHALIE PROVOST, the secstate for nature, stopped for a minute. She soon learned an early lesson in evasion: the elevator in front of the scrums does not guarantee a quick exit. Provost called the lift before wisely opting for the nearby staircase. → EVAN SOLOMON, the longtime broadcaster paid to talk for a living, managed to leave Cabinet without saying a word to reporters. The minister for artificial intelligence — and first-time lawmaker — knows most of the pack. How long can he resist a little banter? → STEVEN MACKINNON, once again the government's House leader, showed a bit of rust on his way out. MacKinnon greeted only National Post reporter ANTOINE TRÉPANIER as he strode past the pack. Only one problem: Trépanier was nowhere to be seen. MacKinnon sheepishly acknowledged his error. First-day-back vibes. For your radar MIND YOUR MANNERS — The PM created a stir across the pond with an unapologetic observation of the U.K. In an interview with Sky News, Carney said Canadians 'weren't impressed' that Britain offered DONALD TRUMP a historic second state visit. 'It was at a time when we were being quite clear about the issues around sovereignty,' he said. — Shrug it off: U.K. Cabinet Office Minister PAT MCFADDEN paid little attention to the remarks, POLITICO's NOAH KEATE reports. — Speed it up: The PM hinted that his government will meet its NATO defense spending benchmark sooner rather than later. Carney has pledged to spend 2 percent of its GDP on defense by 2030 — two years earlier than JUSTIN TRUDEAU's target date. Asked if that timeline will accelerate, Carney said: 'It's a dynamic situation, let's put it that way.' MORNING MUST-CLICKS — The Globe's Queen's Park bureau reports that Premier DOUG FORD has pledged that today's Ontario budget will feature infrastructure spending, not cuts, to battle U.S. tariffs. — Industry Minister MÉLANIE JOLY says Honda Canada's president and CEO assured her that 'no jobs will be lost,' CATHERINE MORRISON of The Canadian Press reports. — From KARYN PUGLIESE at APTN: 'Did MARK CARNEY promise First Nations a veto – or was it a slip?' — Decades of insufficient funding, painfully slow procurement and declining numbers of troops have resulted in what some have described as Canada's 'boutique' military — capable of niche operations and deployments, but not much more, CHRIS LAMBIE reports in the National Post. — MARK MCQUEEN, once an adviser in BRIAN MULRONEY's PMO, serves up a few suggestions for the Conservatives. — 'I had thought that Carney was super-smart and clear-headed about all things economic, but he has drunk the AI poison,' TIM BOUSQUET writes in the Halifax Examiner. PROZONE For Pro subscribers, our latest policy newsletter by SUE ALLAN: Making internal trade 'sexy' again. In other news for Pro readers: — 3 signs that Trump might quit the world's oldest climate treaty. — Trump's Saudi deals highlight Big Tech's energy sway. — USDA, reversing course, will post climate information for farmers. — Rich nations reap most funding for geoengineering research. — India, Japan, UK object to Trump's steel and aluminum tariffs at WTO. PLAYBOOKERS Birthdays: HBD to Liberal MP FAYÇAL EL-KHOURY (70!), former MPs ANTHONY ROTA and BRAD TROST, former Sen. PATRICIA BOVEY and Cardus executive vice president RAY PENNINGS. HBD +1 to Conservative MP SHELBY KRAMP-NEUMAN. Spotted: Former Prime Minister STEPHEN HARPER on stage with U.K. Conservative Leader KEMI BADENOCH this morning at IDU Forum 2025 in Brussels. Noted: The PM is heading to Rome on Friday to attend Pope Leo's inaugural Mass. Ontario Premier DOUG FORD and Manitoba Premier WAB KINEW inked a deal to tear down interprovincial trade barriers, and boost the flow of goods and workers between the two provinces. Movers and shakers: IAN BRODIE is joining New West Public Affairs as a senior adviser. Liberal MP MARK GERRETSEN was named chief government whip. Got a document to share? A birthday coming up? Send it all our way. TRIVIA Wednesday's answer: LEONARD MARCHAND was the first Indigenous Cabinet minister. Props to ROY DERRICK (Marchand's former chief of staff!), ELIZABETH MAY, ALESSIA PASSAFIUME, PATRICK DION, TIM MCCALLUM, MARCEL MARCOTTE, JOHN PEPPER, GREG MACEACHERN, ELIZABETH BURN, PAUL PARK, STEPHANE BERIMBERE, JENN KEAY, MALCOLM MCKAY, DARRYL DAMUDE, ROBERT MCDOUGALL and KOBY GOTTLIEB. Props +1 to ROBERT MCDOUGALL. Today's question via Playbook reader BOB ERNEST: Which secretary of state has a dog named Cairo that is actually from Egypt? Send your answer to canadaplaybook@
Toronto Star
08-05-2025
- Business
- Toronto Star
U.S. Ambassador Pete Hoekstra to make first official appearance at business summit
OTTAWA - U.S. Ambassador to Canada Pete Hoekstra will make his first official appearance in the role at the B7 Summit in Ottawa next week. The Canadian Chamber of Commerce is hosting the annual gathering of business leaders from the G7 countries this year. The event program shows that Hoekstra will address the summit on May 16. Hoekstra was sworn in as ambassador to Canada on April 15 in Washington, and received his official credentials from Governor General Mary Simon on April 29. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW Hoekstra served as the U.S. ambassador to the Netherlands during the first Trump administration and was chair of the Michigan Republican Party during the 2024 U.S. election. The ambassador was in the room for Prime Minister Mark Carney's first face-to-face meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House on Tuesday. Ontario Premier Doug Ford posted on social media that he spoke with Hoekstra Wednesday morning about the meeting between Carney and Trump. Ford said he 'stressed' that the first step in building up the North American economy is the elimination of American tariffs on Canadian exports. The B7 Summit is being held in Ottawa at the National Arts Centre from May 14 to May 16. This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 7, 2025.
