Susan Holt

OTTAWA — New Brunswick Premier Susan Holt said premiers had a “productive” meeting with Prime Minister Mark Carney on Monday, mainly to discuss the federal budget and progress on tariff talks with the United States. Noting the impact of US tariffs on New Brunswick, Holt told reporters the group spoke about the plight of the softwood lumber industry and Carney indicated a “significant” new package is coming from the federal government. Ontario Premier Doug Ford also hinted that an announcement on steel and softwood lumber will be coming in the next “week or so. …“We talked about the budget, which was positive,” Ford told reporters Monday. “Told him we’re light on the infrastructure but I believe that’s going to be coming, an announcement on steel and softwood lumber that affects Ontario in a big way.” …The virtual meeting Monday morning was the first since U.S. President Donald Trump halted trade talks.

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