November 17, 2025
RED FM News Desk
New Brunswick Premier Susan Holt said Monday’s virtual meeting between provincial premiers and Prime Minister Mark Carney was “productive,” focusing largely on the federal budget and ongoing tariff negotiations with the United States.
Holt highlighted the strain U.S. tariffs have placed on New Brunswick, especially on the softwood lumber sector. She said Carney signalled that Ottawa is preparing a “significant” support package.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford also suggested that new federal measures affecting steel and softwood lumber could be announced within the next week.
The Prime Minister’s Office has not yet responded to requests for more information.
Ford told reporters the budget discussions were positive but noted a lack of federal infrastructure funding, which his office later described as mostly “not net-new” and insufficient compared to Ontario’s more than $200-billion infrastructure investment.
Monday’s meeting was the first since U.S. President Donald Trump paused bilateral trade talks in response to an anti-tariff advertisement run by Ford’s government. Ford said Carney did not ask premiers to stop running such ads.
According to Holt, the group also discussed broader trade issues, and Carney pledged to hold regular meetings with the premiers. A statement from the Prime Minister’s Office said an in-person meeting is planned for the new year.
Asked whether she wanted an early federal election ahead of Monday’s budget vote, Holt said most New Brunswickers are not eager for a winter campaign and prefer the government focus on economic growth amid an ongoing trade dispute.
Ford added that he hopes the federal budget passes, emphasizing the importance of cooperation across political lines.
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