'Standing up for Canada': Trudeau speaks at Liberal event as Canada-U.S. tariff dispute continues

Trudeau waved at his supporters at a fundraising event May 31 at the Lightfoot and Wolfville winery in Wolfville. - Sara Ericsson

WOLFVILLE, N.S. – “It’s been a busy day,” said Prime Minister Justin Trudeau as he began his speech at a private Liberal function in Wolfville.

The crowd laughed as Trudeau joked in allusion to Canada’s tariff fight with the United States, initiated by U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariffs on steel and aluminum imports from Canada.

People recorded video on their smartphones as Trudeau spoke at the event.

“You all know what’s like, when you have discussions with the neighbour about something,” joked Trudeau.

It was a stronger than normal statement from the prime minister that came as the government continues speaking out with strong language against Trump’s decision, making no effort to hide disappointment and fear that relations between Canada and the United States – generally accepted to be one of the world’s strongest partnerships – may never recover.

Trudeau spoke of the beautiful Annapolis Valley, saying while he always says each riding he visits is the most beautiful, he actually means it in Wolfville.

Member of Parliament for Kings-Hants and Treasury Board president Scott Brison's introduction also touched on this, saying, “Populism, nationalism and tribalism are dividing people and wreaking havoc economically and socially… the world just needs a little more Canada.”

The event, a fundraiser for the federal Liberal party, drew the likes of Brison and Trudeau along with Darren Fisher, Bernadette Jordan and Colin Fraser, touched mostly on the party’s achievements and what it looked to accomplish as its remaining year-and-a-half in office moves forward.

It also mentioned the upcoming G7 summit Canada will host June 8 and 9 in Charlevoix, Que., under the theme of gender equality.

But that same message – standing strong whilst the United States continues refusing to negotiate on trade agreements and tariffs – echoed again.

Trudeau sent a stronger than usual message as he alluded the near-trade war Canada and the United States are currently embroiled in.

“That… really needs to be at the heart of everything we do, whether it’s enjoying a beautiful evening like this amongst friends, or whether it’s making important decisions that are going to have ramifications for the coming years altogether,” said Trudeau.

“That really is one of the things that’s on my mind as [we] gather here."