First ministers meeting could be most contentious political summit for Trudeau so far
Posted December 7, 2018 10:38 am.
Last Updated December 7, 2018 12:29 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
MONTREAL (NEWS 1130) – Political tensions have been running high in Montreal, as the prime minister and the premiers sit down for the First ministers meeting.
It is a testy day of talks. Premiers have a long list of contentious issues to address with the prime minister. Rumours are flying that Ontario’s Doug Ford may even walk out of the session, which is focused on his key topic.
“The job-killing carbon tax, that’s an important issue,” Ford said.
In his opening remarks, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau defended the plan and even took a veiled shot at Ford by praising Quebec’s cap and trade system, which Ford abolished in Ontario.
“Right here in Quebec, the cap and trade system has proven to be a successful market-based approach to reducing pollution.”
The meeting was supposed to be focused on inter-provincial trade, but has been more about the carbon tax, oil crisis, and pipelines.
Meanwhile, Alberta is demanding federal action over critically low oil prices. “[It is] huge contributor to our GDP — hundreds of thousands of jobs across the country.”
Trudeau vows to support those affected, “whether they are oil and gas workers in Alberta, hit hard by the price differential or GM workers in Oshawa.”
Manitoba’s premier is concerned too many topics have been added to the agenda, and fears not much will be accomplished.
