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Calgary's TV Dragons push Canadian self-reliance in face of still-possible tariffs

'We should say to (U.S. President) Donald Trump "thank you for telling us to choose Canadian," ' said Manjit Minhas

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Potential U.S. tariffs could pump up the price of beer and spirits, including those produced by her Calgary-based company, says Manjit Minhas.

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But the co-founder and CEO of Minhas Breweries and Distilleries said the continuing threat is a signal for Canadians to tap into their nation’s strengths.

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“We should say to (U.S. President) Donald Trump ‘thank you for telling us to choose Canadian,’ ” said the Calgarian, who is a fixture on the CBC TV investor show Dragon’s Den.

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“It’s not all doom and gloom.”

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Entrepreneurs seeking her investment buy-in as a dragon, she said, are too often looking beyond Canada, something she said that needs to change.

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“Canadians need to stop escaping this country,” said Minhas, adding her family has decided to replace a planned family European vacation with a visit to Canada’s Maritimes.

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She made the comments shortly before Prime Minister Justin Trudeau signalled the 25 per cent tariffs on Canadian goods set to take effect Tuesday have been paused for 30 days, following progress on Canadian border security.

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Even so, she said U.S. President Donald Trump’s erratic nature means determining if, how and when tariffs will be imposed is a crap shoot.

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“To try to predict is a little ridiculous, let alone (predicting) Trump,” said Minhas.

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“We don’t know, nobody knows.”

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‘We need a prudent approach’: Minhas

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Minhas acknowledged her own company’s decision a decade ago to split off part of its business operation to Wisconsin, where it distils and brews for the American market.

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The Calgary-based flagship supplies only Canadian consumers, said Minhas, and has been bracing for the tariffs and a Canadian response to hit its bottom line, particularly on materials such as yeast and packaging products.

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“We’ve already gotten (suppliers’) notices — we’ll try to eat the higher costs but the price of beer will go up and I expect that in every food and beverage and fixed product,” she said.

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Some provinces, including neighbouring B.C., say they’ll pull either all U.S.-produced booze or that from Republican-voting states from their liquor store shelves.

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Minhas toasted that decision, one yet to be made by Alberta’s government.

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“Hit them where it hurts — we have lots of amazing quality alcoholic products made in Canada and this is the perfect opportunity to showcase them,” she said.

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“This is a moment for Alberta’s craft distillers and breweries to double down on marketing efforts.”

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The entrepreneur said she favours Premier Danielle Smith’s more diplomatic approach to Trump’s threats, and said retaliatory tariffs should be used carefully, if it turns out they are required.

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“We need a prudent approach . . . we don’t want to go into a recession,” said Minhas.

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“I negotiate with my own customers, people I sometimes don’t agree with.”

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But Minhas said she draws the line when it comes to forcing statehood on Canada.

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“We will not become the 51st state . . . that’s a ridiculous notion,” she said.

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“I wouldn’t even open the conversation because it’s such a preposterous thought.”

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Members of the Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s Council on Canada-U.S. Relations Wes Hall, Arlene Dickinson, and Tabatha Bull speak to reporters during a cabinet retreat at Chateau Montebello in Montebello, Que., on Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2025.
Members of the Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s Council on Canada-U.S. Relations Wes Hall, Arlene Dickinson, and Tabatha Bull speak to reporters during a cabinet retreat at Chateau Montebello in Montebello, Que., on Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2025. Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press
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Trump ‘wants power and control’: Dickinson

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Her Dragon’s Den colleague Arlene Dickinson has taken a tough tone, lashing out at Trump’s vows to absorb Canada into the U.S. while voicing skepticism over the border security reasons he’s given to justify the potential tariffs on Canadian goods.

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“Why is he making this the excuse? Because he won’t or can’t tell the truth: this is about him wanting Canada’s land, resources and geography,” Dickinson wrote in a series of Facebook posts in the past few days.

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“He doesn’t want a trade relationship — he wants power and control.”

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The Calgary investor and venture capitalist said it’s clear the White House won’t negotiate in good faith because the administration intends to crush Canada’s economy for its own gain.

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“We aren’t just a trade partner to Trump — we’re a prize he thinks he can squeeze and that he desperately wants,” she wrote.

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“We don’t fall for distractions. We don’t get pushed around. We stand our ground.”

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She shared Minhas’ faith that Canadians will grasp the opportunity to support each other.

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“I’ve felt enormous pride in how we as Canadians have quickly come together — using our voices and our wallets — to support Canadian businesses, Canadian jobs and Canadian-made products,” said Dickinson, adding she’s happy to see Canadians are “supporting retaliation.

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“We must keep pushing back. And we must not let anyone, anywhere, other than Canadians, decide Canada’s future for us.”

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BKaufmann@postmedia.com

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X: @BillKaufmannjrn

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