Canada's 13 Premiers during their visit with U.S. officials at the White House. Photo Courtesy of Ranj Pillai/Facebook.
Whitehorse, YT – Yukon Premier Ranj Pillai reaffirmed Canada’s sovereignty in the North during a panel discussion at the Wilson Center in Washington D.C. last Thursday following talks with senior White House officials about deterring proposed 25 percent tariffs.
“As Northerns our sense is we’ll have Canada lead the buildout in Canada’s North,” said Premier Pillai during Thursday’s panel.
Joined by Northwest Territories Premier R.J. Simpson and Nunavut Premier P.J. Akeeagok, Premier Pillai discussed U.S.-Canada collaboration on Arctic defense, energy, and infrastructure to strengthen both nations’ ties and security.
The discussion followed meetings between all 13 Canadian premiers and U.S. government officials aimed at opposing the proposed 25 percent tariffs on steel and aluminum imports.
Premier Pillai and the territorial premiers also met with U.S. representatives, including Congressman Adrian Smith, Congresswoman Mariannette Miller-Meeks, and Alaska Senator Lisa Murkowski, to reinforce Canada-U.S. relations, particularly in the Arctic.
Additionally, Premier Pillai held discussions with Greenland Representative Kenneth Hough and Stig Piras, Deputy Chief at the Embassy of Denmark, to explore shared opportunities for resource development, security, and environmental sustainability in the Arctic.
The meetings also touched on pressing issues such as fentanyl trafficking, with the premiers emphasizing the importance of continued collaboration to ensure safety on both sides of the border.
