Canadian Business Leaders Urge Trudeau to Recall Parliament for U.S. Trade Deal

13 Feb, 2025

More than 100 Canadian business leaders have urged Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to recall Parliament to address Canada’s trade challenges with the United States. In a letter signed by 115 executives from various industries, they emphasized the need for a strong and functioning government to navigate the economic uncertainty caused by U.S. tariffs.

Parliament has been prorogued since Trudeau announced his resignation in January and is set to reconvene on March 24, following the selection of a new Liberal Party leader on March 9. Business leaders argue that waiting that long could be detrimental to Canada’s economy, especially as the U.S. threatens heavy tariffs on Canadian goods and energy.

On February 1, U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order imposing a 25% tariff on all Canadian goods and a 10% tariff on Canadian energy exports. In response, Trudeau announced retaliatory tariffs of 25% on $155 billion worth of U.S. imports. A temporary 30-day pause on the tariffs was negotiated on February 3 after Trudeau committed to strengthening resources at the Canada-U.S. border.

Opposition leaders Pierre Poilievre of the Conservative Party and Jagmeet Singh of the NDP have also called for an immediate recall of Parliament to discuss border policies and a potential bailout package for affected businesses. Business leaders echoed these concerns, warning that Canadians could face severe economic consequences if the tariffs are reinstated.

The letter was facilitated by prominent executives, including Shahir Guindi of Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP, John Ruffolo of Maverix Private Equity, and Chris Arsenault of Inovia Capital. Signatories include key industry leaders from Canaccord Genuity, Coveo Solutions, Knix, DAVIDsTEA, Goodfood Market Corp., and Grammarly.

Trudeau was questioned about recalling Parliament during his announcement of retaliatory tariffs, as many view the situation as a looming trade war that requires urgent government intervention.

Related News

Interview