U.S. Deputy Chief of Staff James BlairSA国际影视传媒檚 first comment to CanadaSA国际影视传媒檚 premiers in Washington, D.C, last month was that SA国际影视传媒測our problems will go away if you become the 51st state,SA国际影视传媒� according to Yukon Premier Ranj Pillai. 

SA国际影视传媒淚t was chilling,SA国际影视传媒� Pillai said.  

Pillai reflected on BlairSA国际影视传媒檚 remarks while on a panel in front of attendees at the Canadian Institute for Arctic Security conference in Whitehorse on March 27.

The premier didnSA国际影视传媒檛 name the U.S. official while on the panel, but the News has confirmed with cabinet communications that Pillai was in fact referring to the premiersSA国际影视传媒� meeting with Blair and BlairSA国际影视传媒檚 comments on Feb. 12.  

In mid-February, Pillai was in Washington, D.C., with all 13 provincial and territorial premiers for the first time to talk potential tariffs, trade and Canada-U.S. relations with key members of the U.S. administration, Congress and business leaders. 

The key message at the White House and other meetings was how important it was not to have tariffs in place while working on shared priorities like addressing border security and fentanyl and growing economies on both sides of the border, per Pillai. 

Pillai suggested it was difficult for premiers to digest BlairSA国际影视传媒檚 words while walking out of that room.  

SA国际影视传媒淚t was hard like this is, you know, you're best pals, and you're in shock walking out of it,SA国际影视传媒� he said. 

Amid an ongoing trade war triggered by U.S. President Donald TrumpSA国际影视传媒檚 tariff threats, Trump has repeatedly called for Canada to become the 51st state. 

Following the meeting with premiers, Blair posted to X that it was a SA国际影视传媒減leasantSA国际影视传媒� meeting in which there was no agreement on whether Canada would be annexed. 

Pillai has reiterated that Canada will never be the 51st state. He told the conference that he has seen a renewed drive behind patriotism. 

SA国际影视传媒淲e can do it. It's time to do it. Don't sit down. What are we going to do here? How do we, like, lead our own self determination as a country?SA国际影视传媒� 

Pillai told reporters that afternoon that it was important for him to share that sentiment from last month, which he noted other premiers have publicly expressed in different ways, with the Arctic security conference attendees.

"Because that is part of the context that we are living in now, and it really highlights the importance of doing that type of work here in the North, having a Canadian Arctic Security Institute here in Whitehorse that can lead policy work that can define how our country responds to this really challenging time that we find ourselves in."

The plan is for the institute to be an arms-length entity but the Yukon government is leading the pilot phase, according to cabinet communications.

Contact Dana Hatherly at dana.hatherly@yukon-news.com