Inside Canada’s last-ditch efforts to stave off tariffs

Once again, Canada is staring down the barrel of U.S. President Donald Trump’s 25 per cent tariffs on almost all Canadian goods. After a month-long pause, the tariffs are slated to go into effect on March 4 — as Trump continues to claim fentanyl and illegal immigrants are pouring into his country from Canada.

In a special episode of The House, host Catherine Cullen walks Washington’s corridors of power with Canada’s ambassador to the U.S. Kirsten Hillman as she tries to save the Canadian economy from Trump’s punishing tariffs. Canada’s new fentanyl czar is also in D.C. for critical meetings, and offers a glimpse into his closed-door conversations with American officials. Plus: the show brings you inside an event designed to woo Capitol Hill staffers as Canadian consuls general discuss how their pleas are resonating with Americans. Then, a Republican congressman and a Democratic senator react to Canada’s diplomatic efforts as the tariff deadline inches ever closer. 

This episode features the voices of:

• Kirsten Hillman, Canada’s Ambassador to the U.S.
• Susan Harper, Canada’s consul general based in Dallas
• Colin Bird, Canada’s consul general based in Detroit
• Daniel Issa, California Republican congressman
• Kevin Brosseau, Canada’s ‘Fentanyl Czar’
• Amy Klobuchar, Democratic Senator from Minnesota
• Jonathan Martin, politics bureau chief at Politico
• Byron Donalds, Florida Republican congressman