Saskatchewan NDP calls for emergency sitting on possible U.S. tariffs

The uncertainty continues to float around over the possibility of Trump tariffs and Saskatchewan’s NDP called for an emergency sitting over it on Monday.

“I think it sends a very clear message if you have a united legislature on some of these issues and that’s what we would be seeking,” said NDP Leader Carla Beck.

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She explained that if any tariffs were installed by the U.S. on Canadian goods, she wants the premier to recall the legislature to discuss it.

“We need to be looking at, perhaps, aid packages for industries that might be singled out in the details of that tariff. It might be looking for a motion of unity of that (in the) legislature, something that we’d like to achieve,” said Beck.

However, she didn’t describe what, specifically, she would want to see come out of the sitting. Beck said she would want to see the details of a tariff before talking about what should be done about it.

She said an emergency sitting would also demonstrate that the government is showing a united front

“We hear this time and time again, that people are looking for leaders to step up, to be at work, should the worst-case scenario come into play,” said Beck.

She explained it would be similar to when the premiers came together with the federal government to talk about tariffs.

“It would be the same signal  — that we would want to instill that confidence in Saskatchewan people that this legislature, those on both sides of the aisle, are taking this seriously, are working towards solutions and are prepared to put forth unanimous motions, perhaps,” she said.

A 25-per-cent tariff would be devastating to Saskatchewan according to Beck, threatening livelihoods, generational farms and entire industries. She said the province needs to be prepared, and an emergency sitting would assist in that.

Beck was clear she expects the provincial government would already be doing things to prepare, but said she would want all hands on deck to respond to this.

980 CJME has reached out to the premier’s office for a response, which had not been received by the time of publication.

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