Final day of premiers meeting raises discussions on immigration, bail reform

Canada’s premiers have wrapped up three days of meetings focused largely on U.S. President Donald Trump’s global trade war.

Issues like immigration and bail reform were also hot topics.

The premiers who form the council of the federation have been full of praise for one another and for Prime Minister Mark Carney, who joined the meeting in Huntsville on Tuesday for a discussion about trade talks with the U.S.

“It’s really important for Canada to get a good deal, rather than rushing to take any deal. Including one that might harm us in the long term,” says Carney.

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says the Americans are signaling they will not start renegotiating the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA) on trade until 2026, something she called disappointing. She also says she will see it as a win if Canada can secure some deals by August 1.

WATCH MORE: Tariff uncertainty remains after PM Carney’s arrival at First Ministers’ meeting

“I think everyone is focused in now on the sectoral problems that we have: autos, steel aluminum, timber,” Smith says.

While Premier Doug Ford says the premiers have agreed to take matters into their own hands and issue their own work permits to asylum seekers because wait times are too long.

“I have a tremendous amount of asylum seekers that are up in Etobicoke in the hotels. They are healthy, they are willing to work. They are hard working people. but they are waiting for over 2 years. They are just sucking off the system non stop, not their fault,” says Ford.

Ford also said Wednesday that while Prime Minister Carney is on board to bring on bail reform he’s going to hold him to it.

WATCH MORE: Carney vows new bail reform legislation by fall, blames U.S. for illegal guns in Canada

“We want full fledged bail reform and I’d love to see mandatory sentencing so that when someone breaks into your home, puts a gun to your head, terrorizes your neighbourhood… doesn’t get out on bail after being out on bail 5 times,” Ford says.

But what will actually come from these discussions?

With a wide variety of topics covered, political analyst Lori Williams says a lot of ground work has been laid to tackle issues with a united front.

“There’s a lot to be worked out as this moves forward but that sense of unity, the common purpose, the concern for Canada’s well being, for workers in Canada and for the common interest among the provinces, that provides a really strong foundation for working through these challenges that will inevitably emerge,” Williams says.

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