Holt says premiers are united on Trump's tariff threat amid Trudeau turmoil

New Brunswick Premier Susan Holt took part in another premiers' meeting on Monday, a day of upheaval for the federal government.

The premiers' latest meeting on the Canadian response to U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's threat of 25 per cent tariffs on Canada, came on the same day as the shock resignation of Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland from the federal cabinet.

"More than ever, the premiers see the need to provide the kind of stable leadership that Canada needs right now in the face of a serious threat to Canadians, Canadians' jobs, our economy and our well-being," Holt said in an interview with CBC News as she was leaving Toronto after the premiers' meeting. 

"And so we are. We all agree that we have to."

Holt said the premiers would work together to demonstrate Canada's commitment to NATO, the integrated economies between both countries, and how the tariffs would hurt both sides of the border. 

It was announced late Monday afternoon that Dominic LeBlanc, a federal minister from New Brunswick, will replace Freeland as finance minister.

"It certainly would be great to have somebody who understands New Brunswick so well in that critical role," Holt said of LeBlanc.

"And really what we're looking for right now is to have a strong and stable negotiator to be leading the charge to demonstrate to the Trump administration why these tariffs are a really bad idea for Americans and Canadians and how there's a better path forward that we can do together."

LeBlanc was part of the group that went to Florida with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau recently to meet with Trump to discuss his tariff threat, but Holt said that meeting was only discussed briefly at Monday's premiers' meeting.

On a day when all federal opposition leaders called for Trudeau's resignation, Holt did not directly answer whether she still had faith in the prime minister to negotiate with Trump given the turmoil, but again the Liberal premier emphasized the strength of the premiers' group.

"I think what I have a lot of confidence in right now is the strength of Canada's premiers and the Council of Federation table," Holt said.

"And we are looking for the federal government to ensure that we have someone in place to co-ordinate and lead these negotiations who we know is gonna be there. And maybe it's away from some of the distractions of the moment in Ottawa."

Holt said it is important now to have "strong, aligned" premiers.

"Each of us has a stable mandate in our own provinces and a firm commitment to work together as a team for Canada."

After the meeting, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith told reporters that her government will have dedicated teams of law enforcement to "augment" federal border authorities near the U.S. border in Alberta to search for drugs. 

When asked if New Brunswick was considering anything similar, Holt said the province already has trouble filling RCMP and policing vacancies and would consider using some peace officers to support federal border agents. But she said that it's really a federal responsibility.

Holt said the premiers all agree on a multi-pronged strategy, which includes upping border security as well as preparing for the worst if Trump does implement tariffs regardless. Holt previously said everything was on the table.

"Lots of willingness to listen to each other, to compromise, to find solutions we could all get behind. And so there was lots of differences around the table, but folks who could find a way forward through different points of view."

The Eastern Premiers and New England Governors group met last week, Holt said, and there were positive conversations.

"What we heard from those governors was that they see how hurtful this could be to the American economy and they have concerns, Republican and Democrat governors alike, have concerns about the negative impact on Americans and on their states," Holt said.

But premiers are still waiting to hear details on how the federal government plans to increase border security, which she said had been expected in the delayed financial statement Monday.

The federal government's fall economic statement was delayed by hours on Monday after Freeland resigned, but it was ultimately tabled late in the afternoon.

The document signals that the government is willing to spend more on the Canada Border Services Agency, the RCMP, Public Safety Canada and the Communications Security Establishment, but it's light on details about how that money will be spent.