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OTTAWA \u2014 New Brunswick Premier Susan Holt said premiers had a \u201cproductive\u201d meeting with Prime Minister Mark Carney on Monday, mainly to discuss the federal budget and progress on tariff talks with the United States.<\/p>\n
Noting the impact of U.S. tariffs on New Brunswick, Holt told reporters the group spoke about the plight of the softwood lumber industry and Carney indicated a \u201csignificant\u201d new package is coming from the federal government.<\/p>\n
Ontario Premier Doug Ford also hinted that an announcement on steel and softwood lumber will be coming in the next \u201cweek or so.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Canadian Press has reached out to the Prime Minister\u2019s Office for more details but has yet to receive a response.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe talked about the budget, which was positive,\u201d Ford told reporters Monday. \u201cTold him we\u2019re light on the infrastructure but I believe that\u2019s going to be coming, an announcement on steel and softwood lumber that affects Ontario in a big way.\u201d<\/p>\n
A spokesperson with Ford\u2019s media\u00a92025 The Canadian Press relations office said in an email that federal funding on infrastructure is in large part \u201cnot net-new and simply not enough in comparison to how much we are investing in infrastructure \u2014 over $200 billion.\u201d<\/p>\n
The virtual meeting Monday morning was the first since U.S. President Donald Trump halted trade talks between the two countries over an anti-tariff ad Ford\u2019s government ran in U.S. markets.<\/p>\n
Ford was asked at Monday\u2019s press conference whether the prime minister had asked the premiers not to run any more trade ads in the U.S.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe didn\u2019t say anything along those lines,\u201d Ford said.<\/p>\n
Holt said Carney and the premiers also discussed other trade relationships at the meeting.<\/p>\n
She said Carney committed to engaging with the premiers through regular meetings.<\/p>\n
A press release from the Prime Minister\u2019s Office said Monday the prime minister and the premiers intend to meet in person in the new year.<\/p>\n
Ahead of Monday\u2019s budget vote, Holt was asked if she would like to see an early federal election. The premier said the budget offers \u201cgood things\u201d for New Brunswick and there aren\u2019t many people in her province who want to go to the polls in the middle of the winter.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe know that ties up resources and energy and I think folks want us to get on with it,\u201d Holt said. \u201cWe\u2019re in the middle of a trade war. We need to put our focus on growing our economy.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ford said he hopes the federal budget passes and that it\u2019s in the best interest of the country for people to work together regardless of their political stripe.<\/p>\n
\u00a92025 The Canadian Press<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n