Stephen Harper says Canada had 'no choice' but to walk away from U.S. trade talks

Source: CBC Politics
Date: 2026-09-15 23:39:51.0
Tags: [National, Alberta, Trade, Economy, Energy, Resources]

Former prime minister Stephen Harper endorsed the federal government's decision under Prime Minister Mark Carney to walk away from trade negotiations with the United States and implement counter-measures and tariffs. Speaking at the Canada Investment Summit in Toronto, Harper stated that Canada had no choice in order to protect its separate sovereignty from an increasingly hostile U.S. administration. Harper, serving as chair of the Alberta Investment Management Corporation, emphasized the urgent need for Canada to reduce economic dependence on the U.S., accelerate major resource and energy projects, fast-track oilsands project approvals, and reform regulatory and permitting processes to attract private investment.