Dominic LeBlanc has no time for “51st state” jokes. He’s too busy trying to keep the U.S. from slapping tariffs on its neighbor to the north.

WASHINGTON — Finance Minister Dominic LeBlanc sent a video describing Canada's border security efforts to the man U.S. President Donald Trump has chosen to oversee his tariff agenda — part of Canada's pitch to avoid devastating duties that could come as soon as Saturday.

The leader of Canada’s most populous province says he will be calling an election in Ontario because he says he needs a mandate to fight U.S.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford has officially called an early election and said he has an economic action plan to respond to potentially devastating U.S. tariffs. But he said the strategy would only be unveiled gradually over the course of the month-long snap campaign.

ALSO ON SPEED DIAL — The premier, widely believed to be days away from calling a provincial election, said he speaks with DOMINIC LEBLANC “every day — almost every day” as they coordinate a Team Canada approach to wrangling the Trump administration.

Canada’s outgoing prime minister and the leader of the country’s oil rich province of Alberta are confident Canada can avoid the 25% tariffs President Donald Trump says he will impose on Canada and Mexico on Feb.

Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, second left, speaks as Ontario Premier Doug Ford, from left, Intergovernmental Affairs Minister Dominic Leblanc, Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly and ...

speaks as Ontario Premier Doug Ford, from left, Intergovernmental Affairs Minister Dominic Leblanc, Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly and Ambassador of Canada to the U.S. Kirsten Hillman look ...

U.S. President Donald Trump says he will decide Thursday night whether to include oil in his tariff plan, as he confirmed his intention to impose devastating duties on Canadian imports on Saturday.

Tariffs of 25 percent could hit goods from Mexico and Canada entering the U.S. as soon as next month, Donald Trump announced on Monday while signing executive orders, signaling the beginning of a potential trade war that could have major effects on the U.S. economy.

As U.S. President Donald Trump said on Thursday he intends to move ahead with tariffs, with the possible exception of oil, NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh called on the Liberals to recall Parliament and work with opposition leaders on a potential support package for workers who could be hit by the impending trade levies.

Roughly $900 billion in annual trade between Canada and the United States — and, with it, traditionally chummy bilateral ties — is on the brink of upheaval, with President Donald Trump threatening to impose sweeping tariffs on Canada as early as this weekend.