‘Strong sense of unity’

Manitoba government and business leaders are united in their support for Prime Minister Mark Carney's plan to combat the fallout from trade talks between the U.S. and Canada collapsing, which has led to new U.S. tariffs on Canadian goods. Following the collapse, Carney vowed to respond with retaliatory tariffs, prompting Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew to declare his government's full backing for the plan.

Kinew emphasized the necessity of fighting back against what he called "unjustified and immoral" U.S. tariffs, stating that history will not be kind to President Donald Trump. The province's focus now shifts to helping local businesses prepare for the impact of the tariffs, which will affect up to 75% of Manitoba's exports. Energy and critical minerals are not included in the list of affected products.

Carney has promised that the federal government will do "whatever it takes" to support industries affected by the trade war. Kinew expects to hear from the federal government on Tuesday about its plans to support impacted industries, and Manitoba will release its own support details on the same day. In the meantime, the province has already reduced its spending with U.S. companies by over 80% since last year.

Manitoba's stance on purchasing from American businesses has also changed, with the province now favoring Canadian businesses. Premier Kinew urged Canadians to support Canadian workers by buying from Canadian businesses. Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce CEO Loren Remillard echoed the call for unity, emphasizing that now is not the time for division.

He also highlighted the province's potential to become a single-market economy of 41 million people, which could help cushion the impact of the tariffs.