Ottawa rejected proposed U.S. trade terms after talks broke down, with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau saying a deal remains possible only if it respects Canadian sovereignty. Mark Carney told reporters Ottawa will roll out support programs for workers and businesses hit by the dispute and will “come to the table when the U.S. has the right attitude.” Ontario Premier Doug Ford called U.S. President Donald Trump a "dictator" and said Trump can "kiss my ass" while warning the province must "withstand economic pain." Employment Minister Patty Hajdu said Canada will match increased U.S. tariffs dollar for dollar and vowed new support for affected workers "in very short order." Quebec officials and federal ministers described supply management, French-language protections, and cultural subsidies as red lines; Carney said American negotiators objected to Canadian subsidies for French culture and bilingual labeling, a claim U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer disputed. McMaster engineering professor Greig Mordue warned a threatened 50 percent U.S. tariff on autos would be "absolutely unsustainable" for Canada’s auto sector and pushed for diversifying trade ties with Europe and China. Social posts using the slogan "Elbows Up" urged buying Canadian and signaled grassroots support for the government's tougher stance.
