Quebec Premier Christine Fréchette has convened a special cabinet meeting for Monday evening — a rare executive gathering during an election campaign — as Canada prepares to impose retaliatory tariffs on a broad range of U.S. products the following day.
Fréchette’s office confirmed the virtual meeting will be held at 6 p.m., but the government did not disclose the agenda in advance. The timing has drawn scrutiny because the premier is simultaneously leading the Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ) campaign while serving as head of the provincial government.
Tariff measures and their targets
The federal measures, set to take effect that day, will introduce tariffs ranging from 15 to 50 per cent on products including dairy, steel, copper and certain beauty items. The action is a response to U.S. President Donald Trump’s earlier announcement of 50 per cent tariffs on about $28 billion of Canadian exports — a list that included items from hockey sticks to honey, according to federal descriptions.
President Trump also renewed public criticism of the Canadian dollar’s level on social media over the weekend, calling the currency’s exchange rate with the U.S. “unacceptable … for years — but no longer.” The social-media post offered no further detail on specific grievances but highlighted the broader tension between the two trading partners.
Political reaction in Quebec
Opposition leaders seized on the cabinet call as evidence the premier is using the trade dispute to bolster her campaign. Quebec Liberal leader Charles Milliard accused Fréchette of staging a public display rather than addressing long-term preparedness for businesses facing higher tariffs.
“We’re going to have a news conference, flags, long faces, people lined up around a table telling us they’re there for Quebecers and that they’ll do everything they can to save Quebec,” Milliard said during a campaign stop in Gatineau.
Milliard argued the CAQ government has had eight years to ready the province’s economy and claimed recent gestures amount to political theatre. “So to be told now that we’re going to be there for Quebecers, we’re going to be there for workers, we’re going to hand out this cheque and that tax credit, I find that astonishing,” he said.
Why the meeting matters
A cabinet meeting held during an election campaign is unusual because premiers typically balance governance duties with campaigning; agenda items are customarily not disclosed in advance. The meeting signals that the provincial government regards the tariff measures as a matter requiring immediate coordination, even as the campaign continues.
For Quebec, the stakes are significant. The province hosts manufacturers and agrifood producers whose export competitiveness can be directly affected by sudden tariff changes and currency movements — factors underscored by the federal and U.S. actions over the weekend.
- When: Virtual cabinet meeting Monday at 6 p.m.
- Why now: Canada’s retaliatory tariffs on U.S. goods are due to take effect the following day.
- Who is affected: Sectors cited include dairy, steel, copper and some beauty products, with broader implications for exporters.
Quick reference: tariff figures
| Country | Action | Range |
|---|---|---|
| United States | Tariffs announced on Canadian goods | 50% on about $28 billion worth |
| Canada | Retaliatory tariffs on U.S. goods | 15–50% |
While Ottawa has announced specific products targeted by the retaliatory measures, provincial leaders will be watching closely for fallout in Quebec businesses that participate in cross-border supply chains or rely on U.S. inputs.
In the coming days, Quebecers can expect more public statements and possibly federal-provincial coordination intended to cushion affected workers and companies. For now, details about the content of Monday’s cabinet discussion are limited because the government has not released an agenda or minutes in advance of the meeting.
The intersection of international trade tensions and a provincial election campaign elevates the political sensitivity of any government response. With reprisals already announced on both sides of the border and public rhetoric intensifying, the Fréchette government is positioning itself in real time to manage immediate economic risk while under the scrutiny of voters and rivals.
