Justin Trudeau allegedly says Trumps talk about making Canada a US state is ‘a real thing’

Vancouver, British Columbia (AP) – Prime Minister Justin Trudeau On Friday, President Donald Trump’s talk about making Canada the 51. US State is “a real thing” and is linked to the country’s rich natural resources, local media reported.

Trudeau’s comments on business and supervisors in a closed door were mistakenly worn by a speaker, Canada’s public broadcaster CBC reported.

“Mr. Trump is in mind that the easiest way to do it is to absorb our country and that’s a real thing. In my conversations with him on … ”Trudeau said of making Canada a US state before the microphone was cut out, according to CBC.

“They are very aware of our resources what we have, and they would very much like to be able to take advantage of them,” Trudeau said allegedly.

Trudeau’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

In a post on Social Platform X, Gil McGowan, president of the Alberta Federation of Labor, confirmed what Trudeau said.

“Yes, I can confirm that Trudeau said his assessment is that what Trump really wants is not action on fentanyl or immigration or even the trade deficit what he really wants is to either dominate Canada or take it directly,” wrote McGown.

Trump has repeatedly proposed Canada would feel better if it agreed to become the 51st US state.

In public comments on Friday, Trudeau said that Canada should think “tactically and strategically” on how to deal with Trumps Threats of imposing intense tariffs on all Canadian imports.

Trudeau, who spoke in Toronto at the opening of a one-day summit on the economic relationship between Canada and the United States, said the country must cooperate with the United States to avoid customs and added that Canada has to eliminate internal trade barriers and expand its trade in other nations.

“This is for a moment,” Trudeau said. “This is a time in our country’s history that really matters.”

Trump Monday agreed to a 30-day break On threats to impose 25% tariffs from Mexico and Canada with an additional 10% duty on Canadian oil, natural gas and electricity.

Trump had threatened customs to ensure greater cooperation from the countries to stop illegal immigration and prevent Fentanyl smugglingBut he has also promised to use tariffs to increase domestic production and raise revenue for the federal government.

Trudeau said Canada can use the 30-day expansion to show US officials the country’s increased border security costs. Canada has announced a Canadian dollars of $ 1.3 billion ($ 900 million) Border Safety Plan It includes drones, helicopters, multiple border guards and creating a common task force.

Trudeau has also promised to appoint a new fentanyl -czar that will act as the primary link between the Canadian and US governments, although less than 1% of fentanyl and illegal immigrant crossings to the United States come from Canada.

“We have to be very aware of how we continue to engage closely with the United States to make the case that Canada is responsible for a small part of the North American fentanyl problem, but that we are also bitterly touched This tragedy, ”Trudeau said.

He added that Canada should be prepared if Trump decides to move on with tariffs after 30 days.

“We have to be ready to respond robust,” he said. “We must also be ready to support Canadians through the answers we give, and through a difficult time with customs.”

Canada had planned to reciprocate to the US action with $ 255 billion Canadian dollars ($ 109 billion) of US goods.

Trudeau said it is also time to have “real free trade in Canada” while strengthening its trading conditions with other countries.

Candace Laing, president and CEO of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, said she is pleased that the meeting is focused on internal trade, trade diversification and reaction to US tariffs.

“It’s clear that we can’t just think around the edges of step -by -step steps right now,” she said. “We have to be bold so that businesses and communities can turn to be more resilient and less dependent on what is happening in the US,” Laing said in a statement.