Former N.S. premier hopeful Canada will emerge stronger from U.S. tariffs

Former Nova Scotia premier Stephen McNeil discusses the ongoing response to U.S. tariffs.

Former Nova Scotia premier Stephen McNeil is hopeful Canada will be able to look back at the introduction of U.S. tariffs as a turning point for the better.

“While it might not feel like it today, there may come a point where we thank Donald Trump for what he’s putting us through because the Canadian spirit is alive and well,” McNeil told CTV News Atlantic’s Todd Battis during an interview Wednesday. “I think we’ll come out of it stronger than we went in.”

McNeil, who served as premier of Nova Scotia from 2013 to 2021, now sits on the Council of Canada-U.S. Relations, which is advising the prime minister and his cabinet during the ongoing tariff negotiations.

On Tuesday, the much talked-about 25 per cent across-the-board tariffs on Canadian goods came into effect, along with a 10 per cent levy on energy.

On Wednesday President Donald Trump announced a one-month delay on tariffs against automakers.

“In some ways the fact they’ve actually triggered the tariffs is a good thing; we’ll now have a starting point of where to move from,” McNeil said. “The threat hanging over us has caused a tremendous amount of damage.”

McNeil thinks the economic damage the tariffs could cause on the American side of the border could encourage the president to back off.

“We can talk about this a lot but the reality, when it hits the American voter, will have a positive impact on making the president see the error of his ways,” McNeil said.

McNeil noted the introduction of the tariffs sends “a clear message” that Canada needs to continue to diversify its trading options.

“We need to be out in the world selling the products we have,” he said. “We need to be price setters, not price takers.”