P.E.I. premier won't 'pile on' Trudeau, calls for stability in face of U.S. tariff threat

P.E.I. Premier Dennis King says Canada needs to "project stability" in the face of potentially devastating tariffs from the U.S. and not get distracted by the political upheaval in Ottawa.

On Monday, Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland shocked the nation when she submitted her resignation just hours before she was to deliver the Liberal government's fall economic statement. In her resignation letter, she said she was "at odds" with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau about the best way to address the incoming U.S. administration of Donald Trump and his threat of a 25 per cent tariff on Canadian goods.

The move renewed calls for Trudeau to step down, not just from the opposition parties but from his own caucus. On Wednesday, King said there was no point in him joining the pile. 

"I do think after 10 years in the job, the prime minister earned the right to make a decision for his own future," King said. "And I don't want to get overly involved in that in order to pile on anymore."

Instead, he said he is focused on the best interests of Prince Edward Island and Canada.

"This has captivated the attention of a lot of people, and rightfully so. Minister Freeland was a very senior member of the government … but at the end of the day, life goes on for all of us," he said.

"When Dennis King has finished, someone else has to take the mantle. And that's the same as it is with Chrystia Freeland and Ottawa. We're at a very precarious time. So that's why it's important for us as premiers, and for the country in general, to not be overly distracted by some of those shortcomings that are happening in Ottawa."

80% of P.E.I. exports go to U.S.

King said a 25 per cent tariff, or any tariff, would be difficult for P.E.I. to overcome and could have a "catastrophic" effect on the economy.

About 80 per cent of P.E.I.'s total exports go to the U.S., and a tariff would ultimately affect the province's ability to spend in areas such as housing, social assistance, education and health care.

He said government and business leaders should be "doing everything we can to project stability and to show our American counterparts that we're very serious about some of the issues they have.

"That there are issues that are of concern to our citizens as well. And that we want to work together to continue this wonderful relationship we've had for centuries that only benefits people on both sides of the border."